Pretzel Bites

Close your eyes and imagine with me (oh wait...then you wouldn't be able to read this post...hmm) Ok-just pretend your eyes are close and imagine with me!

You're walking through the mall and what do you start smelling? It's warm... freshly baked... sweet (or maybe a tad salty)... Cinnamon-y perhaps... 

PRETZELS!

Soft, sweet, dense, chewy, amazingly addictive pretzels! They are calling you like a long lost friend and you need some, STAT! Maybe salted, maybe coated in cinna-sugar, maybe BOTH! You don't care, you just want them and YOU WANT THEM NOW!

WAIT!

 Don't do it-don't go there! You can't, you shouldn't... you really shouldn't... 

Why? Why you ask? Well-Pretzels are mostly empty calories... especially those 'mall food court' kinds. Most of them are so heavily coated in salt they make up over 25% of your daily sodium needs. If you get them with sugar the calories are through the roof-and don't get me started on the fake cheese you can get to dip them in! To top it off-you can almost bet your bottom dollar that they're made completely out of white flour which will send your blood sugar levels sky-rocketing, and then crashing! 

It's such a shame... pretzels could be such a wholesome snack... 

And they will be! (When the Blissful Baker gets done with them that is!)

Let's just do a little bit of substituting shall we?

...a little more whole wheat flour, a little less sugar, a heck no to the frying in grease part, and there we have it! A snack worthy of our consumption!

I promise you, they are every bit as chewy, soft and delicious as their 'bad boy' counterpart!

Ingredients:

-1 cup warm water (80-90*)

-1 TBSP. salt

-1 TBSP. brown sugar

-3 cups whole wheat flour

-1 small pkg. active dry yeast

-Desired Toppings (ie cinna-sugar, sea salt, etc.)

For Cooling Water Bath: 

-2 cups water

-2 TBSP. baking soda

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in bread machine as listed (up to desired toppings); If not using bread machine: mix water and yeast-let sit to proof. Then add sugar and mix, add salt. Finally, mix in flour-knead for 6-8 minutes-let rise until doubled (about 1 1/2 hours).

2. After first rise...

Roll your dough into a long snake and cut into bite-sized pieces.

Then we begin the boiling process...

bring 2 inches of water to a boil in pot

boil pretzels for one minute, flip and boil one more minute (if you rolled them into balls, just stir the pot after one minute)

drop the bites into cold water mixed with soda, remove and pat to dry

For cinna-sugar bites:

throw boiled pretzels into a large bag with cinna-sugar (or whatever toppings, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, seasoning blend, etc.) and toss to coat. If using sea salt crystals-just sprinkle those on after placing on your baking sheet

BAKE: After boiled and dipped in cooling bath, and topped (if desired), place bites on a cookie sheet and place in preheated oven set on 425*. 

Bake until golden brown, between 15-20 minutes. 

Place on a cooling rack-they will be EXTREMELY hot-don't try to eat them! I know it is very very tempting.... don't say I didn't warn you!

So gooey and delicious! And way healthier than any Pretzel-Maker variety!

I love topping them with just a pinch (or three) of sea salt...

Look at how soft and chewy they are! Perfect for a party, late night snack, heck-breakfast!

Coconut Oil Giveaway Results!!!

So I realize this is a little overdue :S Please, please, please forgive me! :S

You forgave me and are still here? Phew :)

Now down to the real business-the winner of the T.T. Coconut Oil! (review can be seen here) The winner was lucky comment #57~ AB Smith! Woot woot!

Congrats AB-please email me @ bakingblissful@gmail.com to claim your prize!

Thanks everyone for playing... keep coming back to Bliss to check out more giveaways, reviews, recipes and fun! :)

The Versatile Blogger Award

Today I received my first blogger award! :) I'm stoked! Like extremely touched, excited, pumped, amazing and grateful! 

So onto the steps to take before I can officially receive this award...

1. Thank the Blogger who nominated you:

  Thanks Pint Sized Baker!

2. Include a link to their site

http://pintsizedbaker.blogspot.com/

3. Include the award image in your post

(Above!)

4. Give 7 random facts about yourself

1. There are two things I love more than anything else (well at least food!) 1.) Peanut Butter & 2.) Potatoes

2. I am a perfectionist!

3. I am a certified lifeguard and swim instructor

4. I'm a country music fanatic!

5. I can't spell worth a crap!

6. My memory... what memory?!

7. I often bake something with no recipe thinking it's going to be the best new recipe EVER and then it sucks, I get mad (since ya know... well refer back to #2) and throw it all in the trash... or eat it all because I feel guilty wasting food!

5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award

  NOTE * When nominating, include a link to their site and let the other bloggers know they've been nominated. -my link takes you to my favorite recipe from that blogger!

1. Heather's French Press

2. Cozy Home Scenes

3. I Was Born to Cook ( <- love the title!)

4. Hugs & Cookies XOXO

5. The Lady with the Red Rocker

6. Sugar Kissed

7. Snail Pace Transformations

8. Pink Recipe Box

9. Cook with Sara

10. Shugary Sweets

11. Crazy for Crust

12. My Food Fitness Diaries

13. Lisa Lately

14. Living Lindsay

15. The Hike to Healthy

6. Include a link to their site (did it!)

7. Let them know they're nominated! (Told 'em!)

Clif Bars - Luna Fiber

So it's pretty obvious here at Bliss that I'm a carb loving gal... let's just take a gander at some of my recent post shall we?
-Blueberry Muffin Bread
-Chewy Oat Bars
-Seed Bread
-English Muffin Bread
... you get the point! Now, I could try and use the excuse that I run a lot and therefore need to eat a crazy amount of carbs to fuel... but let's face the truth-I just LOVE 'em!

Seeing as how much I love me some carbs, it's a pretty safe bet to guess that I love all types of granola/snack bars as well! There are so many great companies out there committed to producing wholesome, healthy and delicious snack bars-but be aware! There are a lot of sketching companies too, trying to convince you that their 'snack bar' is a healthy little treat but is sometimes no better than a candy bar :(

Have no fear! The Blissful Baker is here to help you wade through the huge ocean of snack bars and determine which ones hold up to their health food claims!

One of the most popular snack companies is the Clif Bar Company. People people people! Here is a company you can love and trust! Not only do they create a bunch of different healthy snack bars, but they also encourage an all around healthy lifestyle-by supporting many different sporting activities-from marathons to snowboarding. They also believe in connecting with the world their products are grown in by: sourcing organic ingredients and supporting organic agriculture, engaging the people who grow, make, package, transport and eat their food and encouraging hands-on volunteer service. It makes me so happy when I love a product AND their company! I feel so much better buying their products when I know that the company does something good with the profits for our entire world!

Clif Bar was kind enough to let me sample and review for you wonderful readers their newest bar creation- Luna Fiber Bars. They come in three flavors: Chocolate Raspberry (so dessert-like you'd swear you're eating a candy bar!), Vanilla Blueberry (tastes like something my grandma would make for Sunday church brunch!) and Peanut Butter Strawberry (a great remake on the classic combo that I am admittedly obsessed with!)

The Clif Bar Company sells many different kinds of bars! They make bars for a variety of needs, tastes, textures and people! I'm sure you'll find one that suits your nutritional and taste-bud desires! (And no-I was not paid in any way to say that or anything else on this post...that last bit sounded a tad 'infomercial-ly' :P ) One of my favorites (before trying the new Luna Fiber) was the Original Clif Bar-Crunchy Peanut Butter... anyone surprised my favorite was a peanut butter variety? Yeah-didn't think so...

An amazing snack alongside my Maple-Nana Shake (recipe to come!)

Luna Bars are created by and for women! How cool is that! ...and let's just say this woman LOVED THEM! 

They are like one HUGE fig newton :) Ahhhh yummy!

FYI-Luna Bars also come in Minis, Luna Protein, and of course the currently in review Luna Fiber

Quick! Let's get down to the big 3 so I can run out and get some more of these little beauties! (or I could just they on their website here)

Taste: YUM! I love them! So soft, so moist, so so so... delicious! They really do taste like a fig newton-but moister, chewier, and more of a 'homemade' taste. The first one I tried- "Vanilla Blueberry" also reminded of blueberry pie in a way... :) So obviously I'm giving this a 5/5!

Texture: Opps-I kinda spilled the beans on this one in the 'Taste' section-soft and chewy! For being loaded up with fiber, they didn't taste it at all! Another perfect 5/5 here as well

Nutrition: So I said above these were made 'for women' ..but what does that really mean? Well-these bars are made with women's vitamin and mineral needs in mind, that means these wonderful bars are packed with what they call: Core 4 (calcium, vitamin D, folic acid and iron-four very important aspects of a female body). They are also 70% organic! Each bar has about 120 calories, 7 grams of fiber, very little (less than 3g) fat, and low in sodium, cholesterol and added sugars! They also have at least 10% of 12 vitamins and minerals! :O Crazy huh?! With stats like those I'd be imagining a bland tasting bar that has the texture of cardboard-but I could not be farther from it when I'm biting into a Luna Fiber bar! Once again-5/5

So what isn't perfect about these bars?! Only one thing-they don't magically multiply themselves so I'm all out! :( 

In all honesty you can buy each bar for about $1.25 which is a pretty good deal in comparison to a lot of other snack bars out there-but could do some damage on my poor college girl wallet if I had them twice a day everyday (which yes...sometimes I do!) :S 

Are you drooling over that gooey sweet blueberry filling too?! Oh good...I thought that was just me!

Blueberry Muffin Bread

What's better than blueberry muffins? Obviously not too much since they are pretty much the most popular type of muffin ever! It's true...I googled it! Wiki Answers confirmed my previous statement! And really-what's not to trust about a website that allows anyone and their dog to answer complete strangers questions!? Yeah, that's what I thought :)

But nonetheless-Bluberry muffins are an American tradition! But sometimes I just don't want to get out the muffin tins and liners...because in my kitchen they are in a whole nother cabinet that is too high for me to reach without going and getting a step-stool...and the step-stool is ALL the way in the garage... (see where this is headed?)

Lucky for you-this laziness is what created the amazing recipe for a loaf of bread I like to call -Blueberry Muffin Bread! ...but if you'd rather-you can just call it, "That Amazing Bread that Kristen from the Blissful Baker Made and Now I Love Her More than Life Itself Bread" -ya know-whatever you feel like calling it...

No matter what you call it though-everyone you share it with will call it delicious! And call you amazing for making it! So let's get down to business!

Ingredients:

-6 ounces Greek yogurt (can be plain, vanilla, or blueberry)

-1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

-1 egg

-1/4~1/3 cup milk (may vary depending on weather & flour used...)

-1/2 tsp. salt

-1/2 tsp. baking soda

-1 tsp. baking powder

-1/3 cup sugar (or any sugar substitute will work just fine)

-1 1/2 cups flour (can you any-even 100% whole wheat will turn out ok!)

-1 cup blueberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*, Cream all ingredients from yogurt down to sugar

2. Gently fold in flour only until everything is incorporated

3. Even more gently-fold in your blueberries*

4. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and then coat with flour

5. Pour bread batter (will be VERY thick) into pan

6. Bake for about 45 minutes (will vary) 

-Loaf will be golden brown all over and you can always use the toothpick test! :)

Want to eat some with your eyes?!

Soooooo delicious with a smear of cream cheese! :) Ahhhh-so this is what heaven tastes like!

*For blueberries that don't bleed in your bread-freeze blueberries at least a few hours before baking bread, remove from freezer before adding to bread and toss with a little flour. This way they won't sink to the bottom or bleed blue everywhere!

Somersault Snacks

I've almost positive all of us have tried sunflower seeds sometime in our life. It's pretty American to chew some sunflower seeds while watching a baseball game in the middle of June... 

But-if we are going to tell the truth I HATE chewing sunflower seeds. I'm just not good at it! It probably sounds odd-"how can she be bad at eating sunflower seeds?" Well-I can't seem to figure out how to break apart the seeds and spit out the shells without spitting out the seed too! So I pretty much just suck off all the flavor and spit the whole thing out- lame huh? 

This is a shame though! Because sunflower seeds are FULL of nutrition. Like what you say? Why I'm glad you asked! Sunflower seeds are power packed with antioxidants, protein, vitamin E, minerals and healthy fats. In fact, one serving of these seeds have more antioxidants than blueberries, twice as much protein than almonds, six times more vitamin E than peanuts and more fiber than an apple. 

For more in depth information check out Somersault Snack Co.'s webpage about it here

So if you haven't caught on already, this post is all about Somersault Snacks! They are a unique little snack that is the first of its kind. Their quest for a perfect little snack led them to the sunflower seed and some sesame seeds. The Somersault Snack is a crunchy little nugget (in a variety of flavors) that is made out of sunflower and sesame seeds, whole wheat flour, sunflower oil and a bunch of other amazing ingredients that not only taste great-but are great for your body! If you want to check them out-check this out.

Speaking of their variety of flavors-they currently make 5! Both sweet and salty! 

-pacific sea salt

-dutch cocoa

-cinnamon crunch

-sante fe salsa

-salty pepper

...Sound delicious huh? You're telling me! When I first received my sample package I couldn't decide which flavor to try first! 

So I just decided to try them all! Hey! Don't judge-a girl's gotta do what a girl's blogger's gotta do! The pain I go through for my lovely readers :) 

It's time for my big 3! 

Taste: Alright, the first time I tried these-I tried Dutch Cocoa, and if I'm going to be honest (which I always am in my product reviews) ...I wasn't crazy about them. They were good, but I wasn't head over heels.. they just didn't seem to have enough flavor for me. But I finished off the bowl I filled, and a few minutes later I was craving some more... so I filled up another bowl... and then another... and another! And before long-all I saw was the bottom of the bag! :O I'm not really sure what happened-they just got so addicting! The subtle flavor started showing through more and more. So at first I probably would have given a 2/5 but that jumped straight up to a final: 4/5

Texture: Awesome! They were crunchy and crispy! I loved how they reminded me of a crispy cookie mixed with a  cracker and little bit of a chip-like consistency! Another: 4/5

Nutrition: You all saw how many good things these have going for them! They are made out of great-for-you ingredients. Just check this out-it's for 1 ounce serving (about 14 nuggets)

Really yummy mixed into my Peanut Buster Shake! Try it-I dare you! 

 Overall: 4/5. These are a great little snack. Yummy and healthy! The one and ONLY thing I would change if I had too would be to have a stronger flavor, but that is so so so soooo minor!

The Dutch Cocoa-my favorite! Even though I'm not a huge chocolate fan! :O

So go check out these little gold nuggets! I assure you-you won't be sorry!

PB2 Review (Happiness in a jar!)

What does that picture make you think of? 

Anything? Anything? What's that? You're thinking I'm crazy at we are just staring at 2 innocent, plain jane, regular plastic containers?

(Gasp!) How dare you think that about my new favorite product EVER! I don't know if we can be friends anymore... *tears* 

Ok, I'll forgive you-this one time!

These normal, everyday looking jars are filled with GOLD! 

Alright alright, they're filled with PB2-but in my book that is right up there better than gold!

The people at the Bell Plantation Company were generous enough to send me a sample of their products to review and report back to my wonderful readers on! They sent me a sample of:

Original Powdered Peanut Butter

Chocolate PB2

PBthins (a peanut buttery cracker!)

People-I am in LOVE!!! This stuff is rocking my world one snack at a time! Almost every night for the past week I've enjoyed my Peanut Buster Shake which is made with PB2. Not to mention making bowls and bowls full of both original and chocolate PB2 to dip apples, graham crackers, my fingers, etc. in!

So let's get straight to the BIG 3 shall we?!

First off-the actual powdered peanut butter...

Taste: Yum, yum, yum! ok-moving on :P 

Just kidding-this stuff tastes better than I ever imagined it could! It has a much more 'peanut buttery' flavor than regular peanut flour does (possibly because PB2 has a little added sugar and salt?). It also makes it easier to use since I don't have to add my own salt and sugar (it's a lot of work to get out the sugar bowl and salt shaker people!) While it isn't an exact match to peanut butter it is close enough for me! So 5/5!

Texture: Good-but if you really want that ultimately sticky feeling you get from sticking your tongue inside the peanut butter jar-you're going to have to stick with regular peanut butter... PB2 has done a great job though with advising on how much water to add to get the closest texture possible! I think it is perfectly fine and don't mind the slight difference. So texture gets a 4/5

Nutrition: ummm... #winning! This stuff is a powerhouse of nutrition! I'm not exaggerating here people, check this out:

Awesome right?!

And-(as taken from their website),

 Keep in mind, that PB2 is all natural peanut butter without the fat or the added hydrogenated oil.

Here is the full nutrition stats for the regular PB2 (chocolate is pretty much identical!)

So, if you want to consume 200 calories you could have:

-2 TBSP peanut butter and this would give you 16g of fat (mostly good fats, don't get me wrong!) and 8g of protein

OR

-1/2 cup of PB2! Which would result in 6g of fat and 20 grams of protein! :O Wowza! Talk about awesomeness! 

Anyone want to take a guess on what I'm going to rate PB2 for nutrition? yup! a full 5/5!

Overall: 5/5! I love love love this stuff! I just can't get enough which is why my PB2 jar looks like this...

:( Sad day! 

Thank you so much Bell Plantation for giving me this opportunity to review such a great product! It has completely rocked my world!!! 

So tell me: Have any of you tried PB2 before? What's your favorite way to enjoy it? I'm always looking for new ideas! :)