As American as Apple Pie

Whether the Big Apple or America’s propensity for gluttony comes to mind when you think of the phrase “As American as Apple Pie,” this new seasonal Cinnamon Apple Pie Trail Mix I’m about to share with you is right on the money.

You might recall that back in October, I blogged about Archer Farms’  two new seasonal trail mix specialities – Pumpkin Spice and Cinnamon Apple Pie.  At that time I tried the pumpkin spice and didn’t care for it (full post here).  Regardless, I vowed to test the Cinnamon Apple Pie blend for you, and boy am I glad I did.

Fresh off the Thanksgiving holiday, apple pie and I have gotten very close.  Over last week I’ve eaten the leftover pie it for breakfast, a snack and even for dinner.  I’m pretty sure I am solely responsible for eating at least 5/6 of that pie.

Needless to say, I was excited to try this trail mix and hopeful that it would buy me a little more time with my seasonal favorite.

Ingredients:

• sweetened apples
• vanilla cookies
• cinnamon cookies
• cinnamon yogurt-covered raisins
• glazed pecans

Like the majority of other Archer Farms trail mixes, this is really just a dessert packaged as trail mix, but it is so good.  The apples are soft and chewy and the cinnamon yogurt raisins are unlike anything I’ve tasted.

Well done, Archer Farms.  Well done.

 If you’re going to gain the standard five pounds this holiday season any way, then you might as well do it by eating this delectable trail mix.  Another tick in the ol’ win column for The Trail Mix Trials.

Winna Winna

It is official, Kim is the winner of our free holiday meal contest, courtesy of Golden Share Foods.  Kim won for her entry of Kim’s Low Karb Trail Mix. You can get the full-recipe here.

Because of her creative San Diego concoction, Kim and her family will dine on a 16 lb. ham with all of the sides and fixings for free this holiday season.  If you didn’t win, but still want to get in on the fabulous savings through Golden Share, visit www.goldensharefoods.com.   Give it a trial … we did and we’ll be back for more.

Food for Flying

A recent investigation by DietDetective.com explored the nation’s best and healthiest airplane food.  My favorite airline, Continental, came back with the highest rankings.  Receiving an honorable mention were Delta and Northwest Airlines, which as we previously noted serve trail mix on their menus. 

This just goes to show you that when you incorporate trail mix into your menu, you’re guaranteed to be among the winners. Read on for the story from ConsumerTraveler.com. 

_______________________________________________________

Airline food. No, that’s not the punchline to a joke.

Air carriers serve meals, and where there’s food, there can’t be a restaurant critic too far behind. Just in time for the buys travel holiday season, DietDetective.com has released its annual airline food investigation. Continental Airlines topped this year’s rankings, winning accolades for its “free, low-calorie, high-impact meals,” while Southwest Airlines rated the lowest for offering “not much in terms of nutritional value.”

The survey of the major airlines and their snack and onboard food offerings was conducted by health advocate, Charles Stuart Platkin. It provides the calorie information of snacks and onboard menu choices and gives each airline a health rating.

“This year Continental provided the ‘best’ choices in the sky, while United Airlines had a fall from grace, American Airlines wins most improved, and US Airways falls to the near bottom,” he says.

Click here  for the full results.

Best Way – Homemade Holiday Trail Mix Sayings | eHow.com

If you’re looking to give trail mix as a gift this year, this article from eHow.com gives you more options than you could have ever imagined.

Best Way – Homemade Holiday Trail Mix Sayings | eHow.com.

My favorite:

Name it after a classic Christmas song or movie.

Trail mixes covered with melted white chocolate are especially popular in December. They usually have mundane names like “holiday trail mix” or “white chocolate trail mix.” Instead, call it the “Dreaming of a White Christmas” Trail Mix. Adapt a song’s lyrics to match your theme, such as: “I’m wishing you a white Christmas, with every taste and bite. May all your days be merry and bright. And may all your Christmases be white.”

Turkey Time: Get Your Golden Share!

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends this year. 

Scott, Patrick and me right before meal time

We were so fortunate to have the lion’s share of our meal paid for by Golden Share Foods.  As part of my San Diego trail mix contest, Golden Share Foods gave us an entire Thanksgiving meal (valued at $36 through the co-op).

We dined on turkey, stuffing, veggies, rolls, cranberries, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.  Seven of us ate and we still could eat again – no problem.  Yesterday, I even made turkey salad and turkey soup, and still have more leftovers.

We haven't even put the turkey out yet

Times are tough and we’d like to pass these savings along to you.  One more time, Golden Share Foods is offering a free holiday meal – this time for the winner of my contest.  Just by entering, you have a chance to win a divine meal for six.  Click here to see the ingredients. 

You have three days left to enter for a chance to win.  The deadline is Thursday, Dec. 3 at noon.  No late entries will be accepted.  For full contest details, visit this post.  C’mon … give it a trial!!

Gobble09

From now until Friday receive 20 percent OFF every trail mix purchase from NuttyIdea.net . 

Use the discount code GOBBLE09 during checkout.

I’m Thankful for … Trail Mix

This Thanksgiving, we all have much for which to be thankful.  I did a quick search for Thanksgiving trail mix, and couldn’t be happier with what I found.  This recipe below is something that teaches us, reminds us of our blessings and could become a family tradition for years to come.  Enjoy.

American Blessings Mix

 

• 2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks
• 2 cups small pretzels
• 1 cup candy corn
• 1 cup dried fruit bits or raisins
• 1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds
• 1 cup M&Ms chocolate candy
• 16 Hershey’s chocolate kisses

In a large bowl, gently mix all ingredients except Hershey’s Kisses. Place 1/3 to 1/2 cup Blessing Mix in small cellophane treat bags. Add one Hershey’s Kiss to each bag. Close bag with chenille stem or twist-tie.

• Bugles: Shaped like a cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our Nation’s abundance.
• Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by the founders of our country.
• Candy Corn: Sacrifices of the Pilgrim’s first winter. Food was so scarce that the settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn per day.
• Nut or Seeds: Promise of a future harvest, one will reap only if seeds are planted and tended to with diligence.
• Dried Fruits: Harvest gifts of our bountiful land.
• M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future.
• Hershey’s Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives

This was posted on a chat room, and I don’t have the “real” name of the person responsible for it.  If you read this and you are the creator, please let me know, so I can give you credit.  Until then, here is the link.

Happy Thanksgiving, All.  I’m thankful for you and wish you a wonderful holiday.

MILF Alert: Low-Carb Trail Mix

My friend Kim is one hot mamacita, and now I know why.

L to R: Riley, Kim, Dan, Denton

Kim is a carb cruncher, and she’s sharing her secret with us through her entry in my Holiday Meal Contest, courtesy of Golden Share Foods. 

Like Kim told me when she entered, San Diegans are typically health-conscious people and more aware of their bikini bodies than their northeastern counterparts, as it is practically summer weather in San Diego all year-round. 

So without further ado, I present Kim’s Low-Karb Trail Mix:

• ¼ cup dried cranberries ¼ cup (net 2 grams of carbs)
• ¼ cup dried Mango (net 6.3 grams)
• ¼ cup dried apricot (net 3.1 grams)
• 4 tbs pecans (net .12 grams)
• 2 tbs macadamia nuts (net .9 grams)
• 4 tbs peanuts (net 3.6 grams)

Doesn’t that sound delicious?  It just goes to show you that trail mix can be made as delicious or healthy as you want it to be. 

As for you, dear readers, you better get your entries in soon.  Kim is giving you all a run for your money.

Give it a trial … mix something up and send it in.  The deadline is next week!

The Breast Cancer 3-Day: A Well-Oiled Machine

This past weekend I had the honor of walking in the Breast Cancer 3-Day for the third time. 

L to R: Scott, Me, Teresa, Price, Amy

Every year (this year included) I say it is my last time, but then I do it and get sucked in again.  It is such an amazing event and a wonderful display of humanity.  It reaffirms my faith in people and touches my heart every time.  I can’t turn away.

The event is so impeccably put together; the organizers did not miss a detail.  From food, to cheering, to entertainment – everything is spot-on perfect.  Wish I’d thought of it myself. 

This is just a random local; she bought all that stuff on her own. Very generous.

As if the 3-Day wasn’t perfect enough, on three separate occasions some of the dedicated cheerers were handing out trail mix to the walkers.  One offered trail mix granola bars at La Jolla Shores; another presented individual Kirkland trail mix packs at the La Jolla cove; and the MADCAPs gave us delicately packaged sachets of trail mix tied with a perfectly pink ribbon.

Trail mix from the MADCAPs

Just when I though the 3-Day couldn’t get any better … it did.

Why do I walk 60 miles each year?  There are many reasons – my friend Lolly who is a 5-time survivor, my mom who had her own tumor scare, Scott’s family that has had many relatives touched by the disease, friends and family of those dealing with the disease, to raise awareness for those who may have not ever thought to check themselves – and because I can.  There are thousands of people who wish they were able to walk 60 miles, but are physically unable.

Think about that next time life brings you trials.

Win a FREE Holiday Meal

The holidays are an expensive time of year, even before you factor in food costs.  Here at TMT, I want to take off a little bit of the financial pressure, so I’m giving away a FREE holiday meal (uncooked), courtesy of Golden Share Foods.

The meal ingredients  feed six people and will include:

• spiral-cut ham with honey glaze
• fresh green beans
• bag of potatoes
• bag of onions
• bag of yams
• stuffing mix
• bag of celery
• bag of carrots
• bag of apples
• a dozen rolls
• holiday pie

You can add a 16-18 oz. turkey for $16 more (turkey not included with prize pack).

I only have one meal to give away, and since there’s no such thing as a free meal, you’re gonna have to work for it.

Contest Time Again!

The contest is only open to San Diego residents.  I am challenging you to create a trail mix that screams ”San Diego.”  Be creative.  You can use ingredients that are indigenous to the region.  You can name it something that piques the interest of locals and visitors alike.  The world is your oyster.  Show me what you can come up with.

All you have to do is send me an e-mail to thetrailmixtrials@gmail.com, or add a comment to this post with your recipe name and ingredients.  I will mix it up, test it and chose the winner based on taste, San Diego specificity, and creativity. 

Enter as many times as you wish.  The contest rules are the same as our previous contests.  For complete rules, click here.

The contest runs from Nov. 21-Dec. 3 at noon.  I will pick the winner the evening of Dec. 3.  Late entries will not be accepted. 

If you don’t win, you can still get this holiday feast for less than $40 from Golden Share Foods.  Check their Web site for package pricing, availability and ordering. 

If you are not a San Diego resident, but are interested in getting groceries at ridiculously low prices through food sharing co-ops, like Golden Share Foods, contact the good people at Golden Share to learn about locations nationwide.  You can also follow them on Twitter @gldnsharefoods.

Best of luck in your San Diego trail mix-making trials.  May the best mix win.