Category: Video Podcast

A Conversation with Matt Billings of AYO Almondmilk Yogurt (Video)

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date August 10, 2020

If you’ve been looking for vegan or dairy-free alternative yogurt, you should look into AYO Almondmilk Yogurt. It gives you the same benefits of regular yogurt without the dairy.

I’m currently conducting a taste-test of their four flavors and found them quite tasty and interesting. So I invited Matt Billings, founder of the company, to chat with me on the Carma’s Cookery video podcast. Enjoy!

The story of AYO begins in 1913 on the Billings family farm. Matt Billings says he’s the fourth generation to be in the family farming business. As a boy, Matt Billings had the best seat in the house: Riding around with his dad and grandfather in the family pickup truck, three generations of Billings exploring their fields. Life on the farm taught Matt that a good reputation requires a steadfast commitment to doing the right thing, even when it isn’t easy or popular. Now a father, farmer, and founder of AYO, Matt brings a passion for innovation, healthy living, and sustainability to the practice of farming almonds – a legacy he plans to pass down to his own children.

For Matt, being a good farmer means being a responsible steward of the land. He continually seeks creative ways to modernize and more thoughtfully use resources. He is working on tilling in the ground trees from older orchards before replanting. This approach will store carbon in the soil for the future thereby bringing his carbon footprint close to negative. His multi-generational relationship with the same beekeeper for pollination and his use of composts to feed good microorganisms in his soils and reduce the reliance on commercial fertilizers shows his eye is not on next year’s crop but the one his children haven’t harvested yet. It is these steps that build symbiotic relationships on the farm, partnering with nature to produce a higher quality almond and superior yogurt flavor.

Currently, AYO Almondmilk yogurt comes in four flavors:

Vanilla
Blueberry
Peach
Strawberry

It is made with organic almonds, vanilla, and fruit and is non-GMO and vegan. They are made in light, European style.

As soon as my taste test is complete, I’ll put a link to it here.

For more information about AYO Almondmilk Yogurt, visit them on the web at AYOyogurt.com.

Tags yogurt

October 2017 Foodstirs Kit – Little Monsters Cupcakes

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 18, 2018

Carma’s Cookery Foodstirs Series, Part 2

October 2017 Kit – Little Monsters Cupcakes

My second Foodstirs Kit was perfect for Halloween … but I made them much later. These Little Monsters Cupcakes are fun, creative, adorable and tasty!

Extra Ingredients You’ll Need

The kit comes with all the non-perishable ingredients you’ll need to make the cupcakes. What you’ll need to add to the list are these perishable ingredients:

Butter
Eggs
Milk
Yogurt

Unboxing and Baking Video

What I Liked About Foodstirs Little Monsters Cupcakes Kit

First, even when I was impatient and screwed up, the kit turned out adorable.

Second, they tasted fabulous! I could barely bring myself to share them!

As with the last kit, the instructions were easy to follow and simple to implement.

I had a lot of fun assembling the monsters. They were creative and well-designed.

What I Didn’t Like About Foodstirs Little Monsters Cupcakes Kit

I wish I had been more patient and let the cupcakes cool off before putting on the frosting. Also, the frosting is very soft at room temperature, so I would advise trying a little less liquid when whipping it up.

Overall Thoughts on Foodstirs Little Monsters Cupcakes Kit

Since I started this Foodstirs project, I received four kits and have only done three of them. The third, I didn’t even think to photograph or video record, so I won’t be able to share it with you. Out of the three, this kit was my favorite. They were fun, delicious and so very cute!

Who Is This Kit Suitable for?

Foodstirs makes kits that are suitable for parents to do with their children. I think kids would really get a kick out of this kit.

Score: 5 out of 5

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Tags baking, cupcakes, Foodstirs

Creative Cookery Product Reviews Taste Tests Video Podcast

August 2017 Foodstirs Kit – Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 16, 2018

Carma’s Cookery Foodstirs Series, Part 1

August 2017 Kit – Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes

I’ve had my eyes on Foodstirs for awhile for three reasons:

One of the founders is Sarah Michelle Gellar, Buffy from the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The kits are very creative, which I believe helps home cooks unleash their kitchen creativity easily and safely
The kits use organic ingredients

I purchased a three-month subscription. Today’s post is for the first kit I received, which were Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes. I made them for a house-warming party I hosted and they were a hit.

Extra Ingredients You’ll Need

The kit comes with all the non-perishable ingredients you’ll need to make the brownies. What you’ll need to add to the list are these perishable ingredients:

Butter
Eggs
Oil
Yogurt

Unboxing Video + Baking and Display Images

What I Liked About Foodstirs Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes Kit

The kit comes with pretty much everything you’ll need, including a frosting dispenser and cupcake liners. The frosting mix is da bomb. I pretty much could just eat that (and I did with the leftovers!). The brownies were tasty, as well.

What I Didn’t Like About Foodstirs Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes Kit

The kit made eight cupcakes, which turned out to be just the right number for my party. However, under normal circumstances, I probably would have wanted to make more.

I’m not sure if it because the mix is organic, but I found the brownies to be a bit heavier than I like them. I like my brownies to be a little more cake-like in density.

Overall Thoughts on Foodstirs Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes Kit

This was a fun kit to make and resulted in a tasty treat that my company loved. Although the assembly was a bit trickier than it looked, so I probably wouldn’t buy another kit. That said, it certainly was fun the first time!

Who Is This Kit Suitable for?

I think that this kit would be good for parents to make with their kids, as well as adults who want to present a different kind of treat at a potluck, but don’t have a lot of time to get creative on their own.

Score: 4 out of 5

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Tags baking, brownies, food delivery service, Foodstirs

Taste Tests Video Podcast

Product Review: Ready to Bake, Part 3, Chocolate Lava Cake

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 10, 2016

This is the third and final in a series demonstrating and reviewing Ready to Bake’s liquid batter product line. In this post, I bake the chocolate lava cake. In my first two posts, I baked blueberry muffins and brownies.

Ready to Bake Chocolate Lava Cake Liquid Batter Overview

Summary
Chocolate lava cake is trending as a out-of-the-ordinary dessert. On the outside, it looks like regular chocolate cake, but when you cut into it, you find a gooey center filling. I don’t know if it is true, but baking legend says the cake was invented out of a cooking disaster — individual cakes were taken out of the oven too soon. The trick to making this dessert is to bake it enough for safety, but not so much that it is still liquid-y in the center.

This Ready to Bake Liquid Batter does most of the work for you because it comes in a convenient pouch, already to pour into your pans and bake. The pouch can keep in your cupboard for up to a year. The Chocolate Lava Cake batter makes about six cakes in individual cake pans and requires no additional ingredients.

Price: $9.99 and is available on Amazon.com

Who is Ready to Bake Chocolate Lava Cake Liquid Batter suitable for?

From my research, the batter for a chocolate lava cake is half the battle. A regular cake mix doesn’t do the dessert quite the right justice. So, if you’re not a baker, are too busy to spend much time in the kitchen, or have limited kitchen resources, this product may be just what you’re looking for to serve a “home-baked” cake with a touch of class.

Video Demo & Review

Overall Thoughts

Even though I botched the results on this pouch, it is my favorite of the three. The initial yummy chocolatiness lingered. It made a darn good cake, sans lava. On top of that, the product was quick and easy to use.

One caveat: I suspect baking it in a pan rather than individual cups probably let to the baking mishap. So, if want to do this product justice, I recommend making sure you have some ramekins on hand.

Tags baking, chocolate lava cake, liquid batter, Ready to Bake

Taste Tests Video Podcast

Product Review: Ready to Bake, Part 2, Brownies

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 9, 2016

This is the second in a three-part series demonstrating and reviewing Ready to Bake’s liquid batter product line. In this post, I bake the brownies. In my last post, I baked blueberry muffins.

Ready to Bake Brownies Batter Overview

Summary
Inspired by a French recipe for brownies, this Ready to Bake Liquid Batter comes in a convenient pouch and can keep in your cupboard for up to a year. The Brownies batter makes about nine brownies in an 8″ x 8″ pan and requires no additional ingredients.

Price: $3.99 and is available on Amazon.com

Who is Ready to Bake Brownies Liquid Batter suitable for?

Not a baker? Not a problem! This brownie batter is ready to go. Just grease your pan, open the pouch and pour in the batter. Pop it in the oven and you’ve got fresh-baked brownies in under 30 minutes. This product is good for chocolate lovers who are uber-busy, don’t like or know how to bake, or have limited kitchen resources.

Video Demo & Review

Overall Thoughts

The initial taste of these brownies, as mentioned in the video, is very chocolate-y. However, I (and my fiance) found that there was a strange aftertaste not to our liking. However, the folks at my work didn’t seem to have a problem with them at all.

The product was quick and easy to use (even easier than the blueberry muffins), so if you like brownies, and don’t like to bake from scratch, you might want to give this batter a try to see if you like their flavor.

Tags baking, brownies, liquid batter, Ready to Bake

Taste Tests Video Podcast

Product Review: Ready to Bake, Part 1, Blueberry Muffins

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 8, 2016

This is the first in a three-part series demonstrating and reviewing Ready to Bake’s liquid batter product line. In this post, I bake the blueberry muffins.

Ready to Bake Blueberry Muffin Batter Overview

Summary
Ready to Bake Liquid Batters use real ingredients and are inspired by actual French recipes. The batters come in convenient pouches and keep in your cupboard for up to a year. The Blueberry Muffin batter makes about six muffins and requires no additional ingredients.

Price: $3.99 and is available on Amazon.com

Who is Ready to Bake Blueberry Muffin Liquid Batter suitable for?

If you are uber-busy and even using a powdered mix requires too much time and effort, this product could be for you. Also, if you have very limited cooking and baking skills, this is about as easy a product to use as you can get. If you live somewhere that you don’t have access to a full oven, but just a toaster oven, this could be a boon to you, as well.

Video Demo & Review

Overall Thoughts

The batter is very thick and sticky, so it can be a little challenging to get out of the pouch.

Although my initial reaction, as see on the video above, was that it was very blueberry in flavor, I eventually found the muffins too sweet for my palate. That may not be a problem for you. I’ve been reducing my sugar intake and have lost much of my taste for sweets. Americans, in general, have a much higher taste for sweetness that Europeans and so products sold here often have a higher sugar content.

The product was quick and easy to use, so if you like a sweet blueberry muffin, and don’t like to bake from scratch, this is a good product for you to experience home-baked muffins without all the work.

Tags baking, blueberry muffins, liquid batter, Ready to Bake

Cookbook Reviews Healthy Living Video Podcast

Carma’s Cookery – The Show! Episode 10: Jump Start Reboot Day 5

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date October 16, 2015

Carma Goes on Manuel Villacorta’s Jump Start Reboot from Whole Body Reboot

“Going to the farmers’ market is a natural, weekly event in Peru. …you can incorporate a weekly shopping trip to the store or local farmers’ market to get the food you and your family need for the week.”
~ Manuel Villacorta

Today I present day five — the final day — of a 5-day detox from Manuel Villacorta’s book Whole Body Reboot: The Peruvian Super Foods Diet to Detoxify, Energize, and Supercharge Fat Loss. The reboot is organized by the colors of the rainbow. Monday was Red, Tuesday was Orange, Wednesday was Yellow, Thursday was Green and today is Blue/Purple.

The superfoods in today’s smoothie are purple corn and chia seeds. According to Villacorta, “Purple corn is rich in phytonutrients called anthocyanins, which protect the body from environmental stress and toxins, strengthen the body’s immunity, and protect against carcinogens It has the highest antioxidant rating of any food, including blueberries, making it a most exciting new superfood.”

If you would like to try this program for yourself, you can grab a copy of Whole Body Reboot: The Peruvian Super Foods Diet to Detoxify, Energize, and Supercharge Fat Loss at Amazon.com.

I purchased my purple corn through Amazon.com.

Missed the first four videos? Check them out here:

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Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

This Healthy Eating Worksheet will walk you through the process of creating a healthy eating plan. All you need to do is print it out, set aside some time to complete it, and then fill it out. Then you can create your plan, knowing that you have addressed potential obstacles and came up with some creative ways to handle them.

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Tags Manuel Villacorta, purple corn, purple smoothie, Whole Body Reboot