National Hot and Spicy Food Day with Tandoor Chef!

This is not a paid post. I was provided with coupons to purchase a free Tandoor Chef item.
All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

August 19th is National Hot and Spicy Food Day and I'm celebrating with Tandoor Chef!

I have always been a big fan of spicy food! I love the flavors, but mostly I love the tingling sensation. That's why I enjoy Indian food so much, plus there are plenty of vegetarian options. They ofer 11 certified vegetarian appetizers and entrees - it's like veggie heaven!

Tandoor Chef has lots of traditional Indian dishes to choose from like...

• Vegetable Pad Thai
• Paneer Tika Masala
• Chicken Curry
• And so much more!

My daughter tried the Vegetable Pad Thai last night and here's what she had to say:

"It's a great alternative to the usual frozen dinner. The unique flavors danced across my palette... the spice wasn't too much, but just enough to be pleasantly surprised!"

You can find Tandoor Chef in the frozen section of your local grocer. They are also available online through Amazon.

I encourage you to visit the Tandoor Chef website, it has a ton of great resources and information about Indian cuisine and culture.

LAWRY’S® Signature Southern Oven Bake Mix - Review - #GotItFree

I received free products through BzzAgent to aid in the facilitation of this review.
All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

I love to cook, well mostly I love to see other people eating a great tasting meal. And the people I love to feed the most are also the ones I love the most. So I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for new takes on old favorites (and new favorites too). And my friends at Lawry's have introduced me to something new/old!

Lawry's Signature Southern Oven Bake Mix is a new twist on an old favorite. They've combined the zesty flavors of their original seasoned salt, with herbs, spices, and panko bread crumbs. The result is Mmm... Mmm... good!

Since I'm vegetarian, I thought I would try breading some chicken-less strips, and I was pretty impressed!

Baking chicken (or chicken-less) strips in the oven is a great alternative to fried chicken. And with Lawry's Signature Southern Oven Bake Mix you won't have to sacrifice the crunch!

You can find Lawry's products in your local grocer. Check out their website for recipe ideas and product information from the McCormick/Lawry's family of products. And be sure to follow them on Facebook too.

Filippo Berio EVOO review

I was invited to participate in a Filippo Berio Olive Oil review through BzzAgent.

I have been an olive oil user for a very long time. It's the only oil that I use every single day. It is also a fabulous moisturizer... try it!

Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil is delicious! I love the rich flavor, it compliments food deliciously.  Filippo Berio EVOO can be substituted for butter or margarine (conversion chart). Although I personally don't bake with EVOO, but you could.

If you're not already an olive oil user, let me give you a few reasons to give it a try:

• High in monounsaturated fat (the good fat)
• Sugar free
• Salt free
• Gluten free
• Helps control blood pressure and blood sugar levels

It should be no surprise that people who live in Mediterranean regions have lower rates of heart disease and Alzheimer's, and they also have high life expectancy. Why is that? Health experts believe that olive oil plays a strong part in this. 

I'm a believer! 

You can find Filippo Berio in your local grocer. 

This is not a paid post. I received a sample of Filippo Berio through BzzAgent. All views expressed are the opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Harmony Valley Vegetarian Mix - Review

I have been a vegetarian for many years. While I don't really miss meat itself, there are some meat-inspired dishes that I still appreciate, hamburgers are at the top of the list. Forever on the prowl for the next best veggie burger, we've tried just about everything out there. Some are too rubbery, while others can be likened to cardboard.  We've made up recipes on our own, using everything from beans to brown rice. So when I was contacted to review Harmony Valley Vegetarian mixes, I jumped at the chance.

Harmony Valley, which is based in Fort Collins, CO, was launched in 2009.  The goal of the company is to provide healthy vegetarian/vegan food alternatives.  The company is not just health conscious, but environmentally conscious as well.

Harmony Valley Vegetarian mixes come in Hamburger and Sausage style and are super easy to make. Just add water, refrigerate for 15 minutes, and you're good to go! These vegetarian mixes can be used as a supplement to any meal that would normally call for ground beef. 

We decided to make a Cranberry Burger with Tuscan Cinnamon cheese - weird combination I know, but the result was heavenly!  The texture and flavor is spot on. 

Harmony Valley will now be a staple at my house, it's so versatile that the recipe possibilities are truly endless.  Spaghetti and Meatballs, Tacos, Stuffed Pasta Shells, Burritos....I could go on and on.

Even if you're not a vegetarian you'll be sure to love Harmony Valley Vegetarian Mixes - give it a try!

Visit the Harmony Valley website for recipe ideas and where to buy their products in your area. Follow them on Twitter and "like" them on Facebook too!

I Want to Plant a Garden

My family has gotten a lot more "green" over the years. We recycle everything possible, we separate our trash, and we don't litter.  We eat a healthy diet and visit our local farmers markets as often as possible, but I have dreams of planting my own garden.

My space if very limited so I've been looking into Standing Planter Boxes (sometimes called waist-high planters). I've seen them priced as low as $150, but if I tried I'm sure I could make one (fat chance, but it's possible).

You can't get more organic than growing it yourself, right? I don't want to have a whole vegetable garden or anything like that, but it would be nice to grow my own herbs, a few tomatoes, maybe some green onions or something. 


So I'm looking for some advice, some direction on where to begin.  I don't have much of a green thumb, but I don't kill plants either. I want to start small, but I want to get this project started for summer. 


I am going to use this blog to make me accountable! This planter is one of the things on my Summer To-do List, what's on yours?

I'm a Vegetarian

As a child I was never a fan of meat, but I grew up in a house where eating what was on your plate was a requirement.  Over the years I grew to like it, I have certainly appreciated my share of hamburgers and chicken wings in this lifetime; but for nearly 5 years I have lived without it.

Going vegetarian was a gradual process.  I stopped buying beef first, simply because I was never fond of the smell. Then I got rid of chicken, during a brief obsessive fear of salmonella.  I stopped eating pork in high school (I only liked bacon anyway).  The last to go was turkey.  I grew very fond of ground turkey over the years, using it as a substitute anytime a recipe called for ground beef. Then one day I just stopped buying it - cold turkey. I haven't gone back since - not even for a little taste.

I was quite surprised at the fact that I didn't miss it. There was a part of me that believed that it had become a habit, but I got used to not eating it rather quickly. One of the biggest challenges I have encountered as a vegetarian is other people; surprisingly it's not finding something to eat, there are plenty of meat-free options.  But other people have the hardest time accepting my choice.  For some reason they feel like it limits their own choices.  I don't want people to feel like they have to accommodate me. If we go out to a restaurant that serves meat, I'll eat the sides. If we're having sandwiches, I'll take mine sans meat please.  It's really pretty simple.

I am not one of those preachy people who feels the need to shove my decision down the throats of everyone I meet. If you like meat...keep eating it.  It's just not what I choose for my life.  That's it.  That's all.

I hope to share and review some of the veggie products that we use in our family. Perhaps an occasional recipe, veggie hot spots, and available resources. Stay tuned....