At first I thought it was just a phase for us, but as I sit here 6 months later looking for some great deals on green tea, it’s much more than a phase, it’s a lifestyle change.

I must admit I am really loving tea more than coffee as my daily morning routine (not that I don’t sneak in some Cuban Coffee once in a while, but don’t tell Ron that.)

I enjoy the Green Tea in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon.  I also enjoy a Passion Fruit tea or a Chamomile/Tilo mixture before going to bed.  For a special treat I’ll brew some Jasmine Green Tea.

Do you have tea story?

Here are a few of my favorite places to search for tea:

Full disclosure, I am an affiliate and these are affiliate links (that means I am compensated by the company if you buy at these online stores using these links). I appreciate your support.

If this is the first time you make Paella there are some ingredients and equipment to buy. Paella kits take the guess work out of it and some kits come with enough for 2 – 3 meals.

Here’s a recipe from the Spanish Product Store I think you’ll love:

Paella a la Valenciana

The world famous rice dish! Perfect for any gathering.

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:

6 cups of very strong chicken broth (bouillon)
1/2 tsp of saffron
1/4 tsp of smoked Spanish paprika (Pimentón de la Vera)
1 small onion, peeled
2 small chickens, about 2-1/2 lbs each
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 lb of cooking chorizo, in 1/4 inch slices
1/4 lb piece jamón serrano ham, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
4 scallions, chopped
4 tbsp chopped garlic
2 roasted piquillo peppers
1 lb small or medium shrimp, shelled
2 (Optional) Live lobsters, boiled, split and divided into tail sections and claws(discard or keep the head and small claws); or
4 (Optional) Lobster tails, split lengthwise;
8 (Optional) King crab claws; or
8 jumbo shrimp, in their shells, preferably heads on
3 cups Bomba or Calasparra rice or other short grain Spanish rice
5 tbsp chopped parsley
2 bay leaves, crumbled
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 lb fresh or frozen peas
18 clams and/or mussels, scrubbed

Lemon wedges & Parsley for garnish

Preparation:

Heat the broth with the saffron, pimentón and the whole onion. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Remove the onion and measure the broth — you need exactly 5-1/2 cups.

Cut the chickens into small serving pieces — the whole breast in 4 parts, each thigh into 2 parts, the bony tip of the leg chopped off, the wing tip discarded, and the rest of the wing separated into 2 parts. Dry the pieces well and sprinkle with salt.

In a metal Paella pan, with about a 15 inch base, heat the oil. Add the chicken pieces and fry over high heat until golden. Remove to a warm platter. Add the chorizo, and jamón to the pan and stir fry about 10 minutes. Add the chopped onion, scallions, garlic, and pimentos and saute until the onion is wilted. Add the shrimp and the lobster and saute about 3 minutes more, or until the shrimp and lobster barely turn pink (the lobster will cook more in the oven.) Remove the shrimp and lobster to the platter with the chicken. Add the rice to the pan and stir to coat it well with the oil. Sprinkle in the 5 tablespoons of chopped parsley and the crumbled bay leaves. (You can make in advance up to this point.)

Stir in the chicken broth, boiling hot, the wine, rice, and peas. Salt to taste. Bring to a boil and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, over medium high heat about 10 minutes. Bury the shrimp and the chicken in the rice. Add the clams and the mussels, pushing them into the rice, with the edge that will open facing up. Decorate the paella with the lobster pieces, then bake at 325 F, uncovered, for 20 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let sit on top of the stove, lightly covered with foil, for about 10 minutes. To serve, decorate with lemon wedges and chopped parsley.

Lobster can be a little expensive, so replace it with a comparable amount of shrimp if you wish!

Recipe courtesy of Spain GourmeTour magazine.

Let me know if you make it and how it came out.

The fact is that I wake up about 6AM and feel like the energizer bunny on speed going from one thing to another… until 2:30 PM rolls around when my body and mind starts to slow down and feel like my day should be over. Sound familiar?

Well about 1-2 months ago that’s all changed. I’ve been drinking a Verve healthy energy drink daily from Vemma and WOW do I feel the difference!

I usually drink an 8oz can around 2 or 3 PM and it gives me the oomph I need without making feel jittery or nervous, nor do I feel a crash hours after. It’s like a little bolt of Cuban coffee, but healthier! Personally, I’ve never liked the energy drinks found in the stores because I feel they have too much caffeine, they just taste too sweet to me and give me a little bit of a head rush. I don’t feel any of those effects with Verve!.

Verve! Only has 80 mg natural caffeine and filled with 12 full spectrum vitamins and a juice blend of mangosteen, green tea and aloe (Managosteen is a delicious fruit found in SE Asia and is known for its super-antioxidants properties.) You can read the supplement details of Verve on Vemma’s website.

Vemma has the regular (which is my favorite) and the sugar free version which is perfect for those who are diabetic or just watching their sugar intake.

Take it from me and give your body the OOMPH it deserves with Verve! From Vemma!

By the way, my husband loves the tropical taste and how it helps him feel revitalized and more aware, which is pretty important for a director of emergency management!

Click on this link and order yours today. Vemma has an introductory offer bundle for only $25, plus they have a risk free guarantee.

Enjoy!

disclaimer: these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. I have expressed my personal opinion and facts I’ve found on the Vemma website.

I was visiting my sister for the past 2 weeks, who I may add is the queen of convenience. She needs to be as she has a 60-90 minute commute to work each day!

She turned me on to these Kellogg’s Cereal in a Cup! At first, I thought it was a little wasteful, but now I’m hooked. It’s not like I eat cereal every single day, but these are really convenient for those ‘on the run’ days. Plus, these are the healthier selection too.

So… give these Kellogg’s Cereal in a box a try! Enjoy, Betty

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