In Mom’s Kitchen: Twinings Tea

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What a cold spell we have been having in FL this January! Luckily, I was sent some delightful new teas from Twinings! It is National Hot Tea Month, so what better time to celebrate and cozy up with a favorite cup of tea…and learn a little more about the origins of Twinings!

Twinings Herbal Tea_Lemon Delight

The Twinings story began in 1706, when Thomas Twining opened the House of Twinings in the old Tom’s Coffee House in London. More than 300 years later, the vision of one man – to sell only the finest teas, herbs and infusions available – remains.

Twinings still sells tea from Thomas’ original shop, but now tea drinkers in more than 115 countries around the world can enjoy 200 varieties of Twinings tea. I found a link to the original shop here. Wouldn’t that make a fun stop if we were to travel to this area of London?

Herbs have a long history of documented use tracing back to Ancient Egypt, Ancient China and to the beginning of Ayurveda science in India. Herbal tea is not actually tea, because it is not made from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Instead, other common names include infusion and tisane.

Twinings Herbal Tea_Buttermint

Herbal teas can be made from any combination of flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, citrus or berry fruits, herbs and spices – which is why the number of unique blends available is virtually limitless. Camomile, Peppermint, Ginger and Hibiscus are some of the most popular ingredients used today.

The latest blends of Herbal Teas in the Twinings tea chest are Lemon Delight, Berry Fusion and Buttermint, which were sent to me for review!

Twinings Herbal Tea_Berry Fusion

I found the Lemon Delight to be uplifting and refreshing, perfect as a morning pick-me-up! The Berry Fusion is a fantastic tea anytime of the day, and makes a lovely choice after dinner when you are craving something sweet without the calories! Before bed, try Buttermint, a smooth and creamy fusion of vanilla and peppermint.

All teas have an SRP of $3.19. In addition to the new teas mentioned above, Twinings has a line of Organic & Fair Trade Certified Tea! Plus, how cute is this… they even have Tea Mail™!

You can learn more about Twinings and their extensive list of over 50 teas at TwiningsUSA.com.

*Company generously provided samples and images for this article.*

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In Mom’s Kitchen: Viva La Mamma

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As a busy family, we are always seeking healthy, nutritious and quick meals…because when our kiddos are hungry, they let us know it! I keep snacks on hand in the car, in my diaper bag, and backpack so that I am prepared to hand out mandarin oranges, bananas, granola bars, squeeze pouches, and crackers at a moment’s notice to my little snackers! So when dinner time rolls around, as much as I would like to have spent my time preparing amazing meals, as I love to cook, I sometimes do not have the time or energy to do so after working all day and caring for my children.

Viva La Mamma Pesto

Enter Viva La Mamma! This brand new line of fresh, refrigerated pasta from Fratelli Beretta has made quite a difference in our home! Two minutes and just like that…dinner is ready! In the two minutes it takes to microwave the main course of choice, I can cut up some fresh fruit, add organic yogurt to the plate, and have drinks on the table. We didn’t have time to hear ‘is my dinner ready yet’ as dinner was prepared that quickly! Win!

Viva La Mamma Ingredients

With 6 delightful, delish pasta dishes to choose from, Viva La Mamma uses only fresh, simple ingredients like tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, basil and ricotta cheese to make true authentic Italian pasta dishes. They are fresh, never frozen…and the difference is in the texture of the pasta, which is al dente, and the stand out flavors of the dishes.

Our kiddos clamored for more Amatriciana Ziti Pasta, as well as the Alfredo Ziti Pasta, and I loved the Pesto Fusilli Pasta! My hubby enjoyed the Bolognese Ziti Pasta. Additional dishes include Tomato & Ricotta Penne Pasta and Carbonara Penne Pasta. All are unique and very tasty! The dishes need to be kept refrigerated, and even come with a handy fork & spoon on the top of the box for meals on-the-go!

Viva La Mamma Logo

To learn more about Viva La Mamma, visit their website.

*Company generously provided samples and images for this article. All thoughts expressed herein are my own.*

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Chicken Sausage, Feta and Kale Frittata

This delicious frittata is stuffed with kale and red bell peppers, which brings out the flavor of the organic sweet italian chicken sausage nicely! Courtesy of True Story Foods, it is ready in no time for your New Year’s Day brunch!

Chicken Sausage, Feta and Kale Frittata

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

8 eggs (“Mom” prefers cage-free eggs)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup crumbled feta
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cups trimmed and thinly sliced kale
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
2 True Story Organic Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage, cut in bite-size slices

Preparation

1. Heat broiler to high.

2. Combine eggs, salt, and feta, and stir with a whisk. Set aside.

3. In a 12-inch ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add kale and sauté for 4 minutes, or until starting to wilt. Add pepper and sliced chicken sausage and stir 2 minutes, or until heated through.

4. Add egg mixture. Cook over medium heat until eggs are partially set, 3 to 4 minutes.

5. Transfer the skillet to the broiler and cook about 3 minutes, or until the top is set.

*Recipe and image courtesy of True Story Foods.*

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