Harold Import Co. Review and Giveaway!

I love kitchen gadgets that make my life easier.  Cooking for six to eight (depending on which friends are over) people every day means I spend allot of time in the kitchen.  This is especially true because I try to make all of our foods homemade.

One thing that I like to bake is pies, you can see my recipe for perfect pie crust HERE.  One of my husbands favorite pies is cherry, but not just regular cherry, sweet cherry.  Most cherry pies are made from sour or "pie" cherries.  Living near cherry orchards we have tons of cherries in the spring, my favorite for pies and canning is Bing because they have such a deep rich cherry flavor.  The thing is though, that to make cherry pie you need lots of cherries.  Tons in fact.  And that's where a good cherry pitter comes in. 

When Harold Import Company contacted me about a review and asked what gadget I would like to review I instantly knew I wanted a cherry pitter.  Harold Import Co. is a company devoted to all things cooking.  They have pretty much every kitchen gadget, utensil, and bake ware item you could need to be a great cook.  You can see their catalog by clicking HERE  They are carried in most fine kitchen stores.  You can find the nearest store carrying Harold Import Co. products by clicking HERE.

The Mrs. Andersons Deluxe Cherry Pitter they sent me for review is really great.  I was surprised by two things.   It is sturdy for it's weight and the suction cup that anchored it to the counter actually worked!  Usually when I have bought a kitchen gadget that had a suction for anchor it only worked for a little while and then came undone or didn't work at all!  But the Deluxe Cherry Pitter held on through the  entire process.  It pitted the cherries without one miss and made making the cherry pie quick and easy.

I would recommend Harold Import Company products to anyone looking for high quality, affordable kitchen items.

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The Giveaway!

Harold Import Company had generously offered to give one luck Thrifty Housewife reader a Deluxe Cherry Pitter of their very own.  Use the rafflecopter below to enter!  Good Luck!

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb97/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product(s) for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.



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My Families Favorite Tilapia Recipe

I

 recently discovered tilapia at our local walmart. It comes in a huge bag individually sealed at a great price so I just bought one to try.  Little did I know what a hit it would be.  My eldest son who is very picky loved this and asked for thirds.  My first venture was to make a recipe I got off of the site called AllRecipes which I love!  The tilapia recipe is easy and really fast and goes great with salad and french bread.

Blackened Tilapia with Secret Hobo Spices

Original recipe makes 4 servings

4 tablespoons reduced salt Old Bay Seasoning  or make your own below

 3 tablespoons paprika
 1 tablespoon onion powder
 1 pinch garlic powder
 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
 1 teaspoon dried oregano
 1 teaspoon dried thyme
 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt, or to taste

 1 pound tilapia fillets
 1 lemon, cut into wedges
 4 slices white bread
 1 tablespoon coconut or olive oil



Directions

In a small bowl or jar with a lid, make the spice blend. Mix together the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, thyme, celery seed and kosher salt. Coat the fish fillets with the spice mixture, and allow to sit at room temperature for no longer than 30 minutes.
Heat a heavy cast iron skillet over high heat. Add oil, and heat until it is almost smoking. Place the fillets in the pan, and cook for about 3 minutes per side, or until fish is opaque and can be flaked with a fork. Remove from the pan, and place onto slices of white bread. Pour pan juices over them and squeeze lemon juice all over. Do not underestimate the white bread. It gets quite tasty soaking up all the juices.

RUGSUSA.com Review

We all know that a rug can make or break a room, but finding really perfect and affordable rugs is a major challenge for me.  Most of the stores near our home just don't have much of a selection.  You get stuck with about 10 different styles and none of them appeal to me!  So when Rugs USA asked me to review a rug of my choice I was thrilled!  The first thing I noticed is that they have a HUGE selection of area rugs with just about every style possible.  I was really excited because I knew that I would be able to find the perfect rug for my home.

 

 

 

My decoration style runs towards American Farmhouse.  That's what makes me feel comfortable and at ease, and I think that is what "decorating" should be about.  Making our home a place that feels like a haven to us. 

 

I have been wanting an old fashioned looking braided rug for ever, and I could not believe the huge selection Rugs USA had!   There are literally dozens just of the braided rug style.  I finally decided on the Rhody Pilgrim PG Braided Brown Rug which you can see in the pics. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here it is in my front entryway.  I love it.  It not only really pops with the vibrant colors, but really compliments my furniture and decorating style.  Also I have already noticed it is really well made and durable.  So far after a month I have not had any wear or tear on it even though it sits in front of our door and we have five children, two dogs, and assorted cats running in and out all day.  Also the price was very reasonable compared with other braided rugs I have seen online.

 

I know it will last me many years of constant use.  As a Frugal Housewife I look for things that are going to give me more bang for my buck and last a long time without being replaced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found out they also carry furniture, lighting, and pillows in a dizzying array of options.  I love this cabinate for my kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love love love this lamp!  I would get two for my living room, the amber shade casts such a warm, cozy light.





 

RugsUSA provided a vast selection of styles, fast shipping, and a great product.  If you are looking for area rugs, furniture, lighting, or pillows for your home I would recommend checking them out! 

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The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product(s) for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own.

 

 

Honeyville Farms Review and Giveaway!

 

 

Honeyville Farms has been a producer of high quality freeze dried foods for years now.  I have often seen their products on the shelves but have never had an opportunity to try them out.  So when Honeyville offered me a chance to review some of their products I was thrilled.  I try to keep a good supply of food in reserve for our family in case of emergencies or job loss.  Our family has gone through some hard times already and I learned that having emergency food stores for when bad things go down is very important.

 

People always think of emergency food as a preparation for nuclear war or zombie Apocalypse or something equally unlikely.  But what about having a good supply of non perishable foods for things like job loss, or illness?  Both of those scenarios happen frequently and having food storage is just as important as having an emergency fund.

 

Honeyville Farms has a huge selection of different foods, not just freeze dried emergency supplies, but grains, pasta, baking supplies, seeds, and beans and lentils.  The prices on their site are very reasonable compared to the stores.

 

 

 Honeyville sent me a selection of their freeze dried fruits to try out.  We love to eat freeze dried fruits on our cereals in the morning or in my homemade granola mix.  The freeze dried fruits come in two different sizes, a large number 10 can and the smaller cans.  I like the small cans for every day use because we can use the fruit up before it looses its "crunch" that comes from the freeze drying.  The larger cans I would use for long term food storage for emergencies.

 

 Honeyville Farms has a HUGE selection of freeze dried  fruits to choose from, many of them not carried by most emergency food companies.  They carry strawberries, bananas, apples, apricots, blackberries, mango's, blueberries, grapes, peaches, pineapple, and raspberries.

 

 

 

I tried the apples, blueberries, and strawberries.   All Honeyville fruits can be eaten right out of the can or used in baking.  Our favorite was definitely the strawberries.  I love them on cereal in the morning.

 

I would recommend Honeyville Farms to anyone looking for food storage solutions or for your home cooking and baking needs.  They run specials every month and also have great shipping rates!

 

Connect with Honeyville Farms

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The Giveaway!

 

Honeyville Farms is giving one of my lucky readers their own can of Freeze Dried Strawberries!  Use the rafflecopter below to enter!

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb96/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product(s) for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.

 

 

 

 

Pies! Tips for making great pie crusts

I really like making pie.  Mainly because they are easy when compared to the accolades you will receive   Honestly people think if you made a pie that you spent hours in the kitchen slaving away.  Also baking pies makes me feel all homey and housewifey.  But pie making in general is easy.  The hardest part is the pie crust, or I should say making a good pie crust.

The first thing to making a good pie crust that is flaky and tender is having a good recipe.  My favourite comes from a 60 year old cook book called Farm Journals Pie book.  It is last word on pies.  Pie crusts are pretty simple.  Just fat, flour, salt, and water. .

But my number one tip for making pie crusts is rolling the dough out between two layers of Saran wrap.  Not only does it not stick, but you don't need to add more flour to keep it from sticking which will make your crust tough.

I made two pies this time.  Both are pies I've never had so it was an adventure.  The first was a plum pie made with my home canned plums.  The other was shoofly pie.  Both turned out good, but I think I over baked the shoofly a bit.  The plum was a success so I know what I can use those dozens of quarts of plums I canned for.  Below is the recipe from my farm journal cookbook.

One Crust Pie

1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening
2 1/2 Tablespoons ice water 

10 inch 2 crust pie

3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons shortening
6 tablespoons ice water


For all pie crusts: Whisk together the flour and salt, cut in the shortening until small pea size pieces. Add ice water a spoonful or so at a time, how much water will vary with the weather. Just enough to make the dough stay together.

Roll out between two layers of Saran wrap, one underneath and one on top working from the middle out until desired size.

All ingredients except water

cutting it in with my trusty pastry cutter

the dough between the two saran wrap

my little helper who was rolling his own pie dough.  I couldn't get him to do a normal smile!

I put the pie plate on top to make sure the dough is big enough, by the way the best pie plates are glass or stoneware

The pie dough.  I just remove the top layer of plastic and then pick up the bottom layer of plastic with the rolled dough on top and then carefully flip over and lay over the pie plate.   Then there is no breaking of the dough.

the plums I canned, it took three jars

draining the plums

the plum mixture

crumb spice topping

the finished pies

below is the kind of pie plates I use, just plain ol pyrex, but they are awesome   This one displayed is much prettier than mine though.

I also like stoneware and have one that is similar to this one below.

Footsmart Shoes Review and Giveaway!

If there is one thing that I am willing to shell out extra money for its good shoes that are quality made and support my feet.  Having supportive shoes can help prevent a whole slew of problems in your life.  So when FootSmart asked me to review their shoes I was thrilled! 

Here is some info on the company

FootSmart, the largest direct retailer of foot and lower body healthcare products in the United States, understands that when your feet hurt or are not properly cushioned or supported, your entire lower body can be negatively affected.

Online and via our mail-order catalog, FootSmart sells over 3,000 comfort, health and pain-relieving products designed to effectively improve your quality of life. A division of Benchmark Brands, Inc., FootSmart has been working to soothe or solve your lower body health related problems and discomforts since first opening its doors in 1989.

FootSmart cares about its customers, and has partnered with leading healthcare professionals to compile a group of carefully selected foot and lower body healthcare products.



 The first thing I noticed was the HUGE selection they carry!  I mean there are thousands of different shoes for women alone!  And they don't just carry shoes, they also carry sandals, socks, hosiery, foot health products, slippers, and diabetic supplies.

I have a weakness for wool socks so I love these wool slipper socks!

 
 





The hardest part really was choosing just one pair of shoes.  There is just such a huge selection!  One of the features on their site that I really liked was that you could search for shoes by your foot issue.  I have really bad heel pain so I was able to look up shoes that deal specifically with that.

I finally decided on the Merrell Women's Siren Sport 2 Walking Shoes.  They help with my ankle pain by providing lots of arch support and retail at $89.99 which is what I would pay for any good pair of shoes.   They fit perfectly and are extremely comfortable. I have been wearing them every day and my ankle pain has gone away when I wear them.

 

 

In conclusion I was impressed with the selection, ease of using the website, and prices of this company.  They not only have products that address a variety of foot problems, but their selection is really fashionable and cute so you don't feel like your wearing medical shoes.  I will definitely be ordering from FootSmart again!

Connect with FootSmart

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Bonus

The people at FootSmart are offering The Thrifty Housewife readers free shipping on all Merrell shoes by using this promo code. Just click the below link, and on the page it takes you to click the shop now and you will be getting free shipping on your order!

http://www.footsmart.com/MarketingPage.aspx?pageId=1367&SRCCODE=SHIPNOW7

 

Giveaway!

The FootSmart people have been super generous in offering to give one lucky Thrifty Housewife reader their very own pair of  Merrell Women's Siren Sport 2 Walking Shoes a $89.99 value!  Use the rafflecopter below to enter and good luck!

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb95/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.

 

 

 

Thrifty Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bills

 

Out of all your non negotiable bills food is the one with the most potential to be cut back on.  Your electric bill, phone bill, or gas bill have very little wiggle room.  By smart shopping and using some thrifty planning ideas you can not only cut your grocery bills, but also eat healthier!  Here are some things I have learned from 15 years of tight budgets and feeding 6 people.

1.  When on a great sale buy allot!  When a certain item that is something you use all the time goes on sale buy a months worth.  You will still have some by the time the next sale comes on for the same item.  You can save up to 75% off on things like meat peanut butter, canned fruits, coffee, flour, ect.

2.  Have a monthly dinner plan.  Plan out what you want to make every night for dinner this will save you hundreds of dollars a year.  Then write down any special ingredients you need to make it.  I write down every nights meals for the month following a simple meal plan that caters to our weekly schedule.  So on busy nights I use crock pot recipes, on Mondays I do a simple recipe, ect.  I can also plan leftover meals by knowing what dinners will leave certain leftovers.  This will save you tons of money because you will eat out less and you will eat healthier.  You also will know exactly what to take out in the morning to defrost so there will be no last minute dash to the freezer to see what's available.

3. Buy generic.  Generic foods are almost always cheaper than name brands, even with coupons.  However always cross check the name brand prices just to be sure!

4.  Plan you attack!  Every week check you local grocery store adds and plan accordingly.  I shop at one store for their items on sale and then the other.  I probably never buy items unless they are on sale.

5. Cut back on convenience foods, chips, soda, beer, alcohol, and flavored fruit drinks.  These are just empty calories that also cost allot of money.

6.  Check the unit price!  Sometimes when an item is on sale it seems like a great deal compared to the other brand sitting right next to it.  But if you check the unit price you find out that the other brand is actually cheaper!   I always check the unit price and have saved hundreds of dollars a year.  Below is a pic of a store price label.  The unit price is the 9.80 one.

Homemade Healthy Kool Aid!

 

Ok this is such a great idea I had to share it.  Right now with food getting more and more expensive and juices very pricy I have been using koolaid as a summer drink for my kids.  Now I cut back on the sugar it calls for but still I never feel right about it.  We don't do fruit juice cocktails, which are just sugar flavored drinks, or soda pop either in our house.  Both are just empty foods and expensive too!

So when I saw this great idea over at Searching 4 Savings I had to share it.  It is such a great idea for making your own koolaid for kids that is healthy and natural!

Click the Link HERE to go to the recipe

Ryobi Chainsaw Giveaway and Review!

 

In our area wood heat is not just something for the occasional picturesque fire, but instead is used all the time to heat homes.  You will see massive piles of firewood stacked and ready for burning all over our town.  And people start preparing early!  Our next door neighbor already has five cords stacked and ready for next winter.

So when Ryobi offered to send me a brand new 20 in gas powered chain saw to review I was thrilled.  We use our wonderful little cook stove to heat our home in winter and also to cook and bake with so getting fire wood is very important.  And to get firewood you need a reliable chainsaw.

As soon as the chainsaw came in via fedex we tried it out. It came with its own hard case.   It was super easy to start and use. I myself was able to start it no problem. I love it and so does Hubby.  It is not difficult to control, isn't too heavy, and is just right for bucking firewood.  Also as far as price goes they are very reasonable for such a nice chainsaw.  I would recommend this to anyone!

As a bonus all Ryobi Outdoor Products purchased on or after JANUARY 1, 2009 are covered by a 3-year warranty.   

Not only that but Ryobi carries a huge amount of different tools, from power tools to painting tools.  And they are all covered by a three year warrenty!        

Connect with Ryobi

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The Giveaway!

One lucky reader will win this 20 inch chainsaw courtesy of Ryobi a $200.00 value!

 

The Ryobi 20 in. Gas 46 cc Chainsaw is designed for aggressive cutting and ultimate control, and features a large 20 in. bar and chain with an automatic oiler for smooth, uninterrupted operation. The 46 cc 2 Cycle engine provides reliable performance time after time, and the anti-vibe handle reduces fatigue to help you get the job done fast. The side-access chain tensioning and replacement make adjustments quick and easy.

 

A huge thank you to my sponsor!

 

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb94/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.

Smart Silk Pillow Review and Giveaway!

 

 

Have you ever heard of SmartSilk Bedding and Pillows?  Well I never had but when I was researching hypo-allergic dust mite resistant bedding I came across the company and started reading up on it.  I was immediately intrigued by the idea of silk filled bedding and pillows because both my husband and son have major allergies. I was thrilled when the company agreed to let me review two of their pillows. 

This came at a very opportune time  for me too because I was have major problems with neck and shoulder pain that was due to my pillow that I had bought at walmart.  Now these were not the cheap pillows either!

I received two king sized pillows for the purpose of this review and when I first took them out of the package I was surprised at how light they were.  I was a little concerned that they were not going to be thick enough to support my neck as I am a side sleeper.

I noticed right out of the package that the pillows didn't have that chemical smell that every other pillow I have bought had.    Any pillow that is filled with polyester or poly fill is made with chemicals just like plastic so that lets off fumes in small amounts for quite awhile.  But I found out that SmartSilk  inner fill is made of all natural long stranded silk floss. The outer shell is made of an all-natural soft cotton finish. 

Sleeping on my pillow was wonderful.  It was comfortable and the next morning I had no neck or shoulder pain and haven't since I got them.  These pillow are definitely worth the higher price for just that!  Also SmartSilk products come with a 60-day satisfaction money back guarantee and will pay for the return shipping. They also offer a 10-year warranty from the date of purchase that covers manufacturer's defects but does not cover normal wear and tear. Washing and care instructions must be followed.  As a bonus SmartSilk products are machine washable and dryer friendly so no expensive cleaning bills!


SmartSilk™ Bedding is:

  Naturally 100% hypo-allergic - does not trigger feather-related allergic reactions
  Rich with the protein sericin - the best choice for those with skin allergies
  Inhospitable to dust mites - a great relief to allergy sufferers
  Inhospitable to bed bugs - a great relief to us all
  Able to wick away excessive moisture - ideal for those affected by night sweats, or mild incontinence
  A fire retardant - ideal for crib bedding
  Resistant to mold & mildew and is one of the strongest natural fibers - durable, long lasting
  Light in weight and will not take on body odor - luxurious, soft, comfortable
  A temperature regulator - gives you warmth when it is cold and cools you down when warm
  Certified asthma & allergy friendly™ - confidence you can trust





SmartSilk carries a full line products for all you bedding needs.   Mattress Pad, Comforter, Pillow, Pillow Protector, and the Complete Bed Set.  They even have a new line for your furry family member which you can see HERE.

To learn more about their products and how they help customers get a better nights sleep go HERE.   You can purchase SmartSilk products online or at Costco.

Connect with SmartSilk

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Phone 1.877.678.7455

 

The Giveaway!

SmartSilk has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers two standard sized pillow of their very own!  That is a $130.00 value!  Use the rafflecopter below to enter.  This giveaway is not in anyway affiliated with Facebook or any other social media site.

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb92/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.

 

 

 

 

                        

An Introduction and a Tattler Reusable Canning Lids Giveaway!

Hi my name is Sarah and if you are reading this your at my blog The Thrifty Housewife.  I am a long time thrifty housewife (going on almost 15 years) with four precious children ages 15, 10, 8, and 4.  Being on a single income for all those years has taught me thousands of ways to save money and live on a small budget but still enjoy this amazing world we live in.

My blog is about ways to be thrifty and make a dollar stretch with family friendly reviews and giveaways thrown in for fun.  You will find recipes, thrifty ideas, thrifty chicken keeping advice, sewing tips, and gardening.

One of my favorite things to do is review products for my blog.  Every penny I spend is important so when I buy something I always research it on the net.  My favorite way is to read reviews from people who have already bought it and are using it themselves.  This has saved me countless dollars and I love to review products and share my experiences with others.

So pour yourself a cup of tea, browse around, and enjoy!  I love comments so feel free to leave (nice) comments anytime.

To start my blog off with a bang I am personally giving away two boxes of Tattler Reusable Canning  Lids.  One regular mouth and one large mouth.  These are amazing for canning and I use them myself! They will last you years and what is more thrifty than that?  Use the rafflecopter below to enter and good luck!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb91/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post.  My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.

Stonewall Kitchen Review and a Giveaway!

I love unique and gourmet foods.  That's one of the reasons I can, because you just cant get certain foods unless you make them yourself.  So when Stonewall Kitchen offered to send me some of their products to review I was thrilled!  They very appropriately sent me some dessert topping, just in time for ice cream season!

As I browsed through their online store you can find HERE I was amazed at the huge selection of tasty treats, seasoning, housewares, and foods they carry.  There is something for everyone at Stonewall Kitchen and so many great gift ideas that I know I will be going back for Christmas gifts.

Here is a blurb about the company

The extraordinary journey of two friends, Jim Stott and Jonathan King, who were waiters, cooks and avid gardeners, has captured the interest of many and the loyalty of every employee. From the beginning, the company was based on ideals born out of Maine: unspoiled beauty, wholesomeness, a sense of community. It is a testament to the art of preserve making and the growing public interest in wholesome, quality and tasty ingredients. "If you really produce a high quality item, you'll be successful." That's the secret according to Jim and Jonathan.

The demand soon outpaced the production capacity of the small cottage kitchen, so they purchased an old 1700s barn in Kittery, Maine which they renovated to become the company's "headquarters" for a short couple years before they moved to an even larger space in York and renovated an old community grocery store. A buzzer announced customers in the retail area of the facility. All day long it would clamor: "buzz, buzz, buzz," while Jim and Jonathan were busy mixing and pouring ingredients out back, packing boxes, and answering phones. Then someone mentioned they should attend the Fancy Food Show in NYC. Having never been to New York City, they literally were two fish out of the [Maine] water when they made their first appearance at the 1995 Fancy Food Show — a tradeshow that attracts 1,100 exhibitors and 36,000 buyers, the Oscars of the specialty food industry. But low and behold, Stonewall Kitchen brought home an unprecedented award for first time attendees: Outstanding Jam for Roasted Garlic Onion Jam and a second highest honor award, for Outstanding Product Line. They left NYC with 500 orders from retailers across the country.

They once again, quickly outgrew their first York location within five, short years. After gaining much support from the local community, Jim and Jonathan purchased an eight-acre parcel of town-owned land and built their 46,000 square-foot headquarters, manufacturing and company store on Route 1 in York, Maine in 1999.

The multi-faceted space is an extension of the brand and a dream come true for Jim and Jonathan. Since moving to the new site in 2000, Stonewall Kitchen Café — a casual breakfast and lunch bistro adjacent to the company store, was added in 2003. And in 2008, the Stonewall Kitchen Cooking School opened offering classes for cooks of all skill levels. The school's goal is to encourage everyone to enjoy cooking, whether they are a novice-just learning, or a more experienced cook, while in a relaxed, "stress-free" atmosphere. The 32-seat, theater-style, state-of-the-art kitchen provides classes, demonstrations and book signings from cookbook authors, chefs and stylists from around the country.

Today, Stonewall Kitchen boasts more than 6,000 wholesale accounts nationwide, thriving catalog and web divisions, 11 retail Company Stores along the East Coast and a staff growing into the hundreds. The entire Stonewall Kitchen product line continues to be one of the most awarded in the industry year after year. Since 1995, Stonewall Kitchen has received 28 prestigious awards from the National Association of the Specialty Food Trade and has been awarded the coveted Outstanding Product Line Honors three times. The company continues to evolve ensuring its role as one of the country's most acclaimed specialty food producers.



Stonewall kitchen generously sent me two ice cream topping for review.  The first one I tried was he White Chocolate Fig Sauce which retails for only $6.95!  I honestly didn't think I would like it because I'm not fond of figs and it sounded a little weird, but it was amazing on vanilla ice cream!  I loved the rich Carmel-ie flavor and the contrast of the tiny crunch fig seeds.  It was my favorite of the two they sent me which is saying allot because the other flavor was chocolate.









Next I tried their Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Sauce.  If you like salted chocolate, which I admit I'm a fan of, you will love this topping.  Unlike some desserts that say they are "salted" but never seem to really taste like it this topping has the savory saltiness coming through very strong.  It is not overwhelming and was really good on ice cream where it paired wonderfully with the smooth sweetness of the vanilla.  Any chocolate lover with fall in love with this!  And at $6.95 a jar it is a bargain.  A little goes a long way!








I would love to try out other Stonewall Kitchen foods after experiencing the quality of the two they sent me.  They are not only gourmet, but very inexpensive too!

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Bonus!

Right now you can enter to win a trip to Maine for a foodie adventure from Stonewall Kitchen!  Go HERE to enter!

 

Giveaway!

 

Stonewall Kitchen has generously offered one of my readers the chance to win the two gourmet toppings I review for their very own!  Use the rafflecopter below to enter.  Open to the US only.

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb90/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.