Cuisinart | Product Reviews by The Experimental Mommy

Anthony’s Whole Grain Pasta: Review and Cuisinart Giveaway

June 13, 2011 By Jennifer

My son is a moose. No, really…..I say that with love. Born two weeks early at a whopping 8 pounds, 9 ounces, and 22 1/2 inches long, he has always been off the charts. Now, at age 9, he is one of the tallest in his grade level and has consistently been in the 99th percentile for height and weight. He gets it honestly…my husband is 6’3. With his size comes the tendency to eat like a human garbage disposal. Luckily, he’s very active in sports and likes to be outside, so he’s still considered a healthy weight for his height. But, I still keep a close eye on what my kids eat and try to make easy, healthy substitutes when I can to make sure we don’t end up “off the charts” in a bad way!

When I was asked to do a review of Anthony’s Whole Grain Pasta, I thought this would be a great experiment. Although I have made many minor changes to our diets in my household over the years, pasta is something I honestly didn’t change. My kids love spaghetti, macaroni, and lots of other things with pasta, but I have just not bothered to change from my white-flour, regular products. Anthony’s sent me a variety of their whole grain products to try out.

Why whole grain? From the website: “Thanks to innovative technology, Anthony’s has introduced the first of its kind 100% Whole Grain Pasta that combines the health benefits of 100% whole grain with amazing taste and texture not yet seen on the market. Durum whole wheat flour is the only ingredient listed on the package. Think about that. Not many packaged products have just one simple, wholesome ingredient. Anthony’s 100% Whole Grain Pasta is high in fiber, all natural and heart healthy. (Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods and low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.)”

I decided to test out the macaroni in my kid’s favorite mac and cheese recipe one night at dinner. I didn’t say anything about the experiment, as my daughter can be super picky and prone to not eating anything she doesn’t think is the “real deal.” The pasta cooked evenly, and the texture was exactly like my regular pasta that I’ve always used. But the real proof is in the pudding, right? I fixed the kids’ plates and waited to see what would happen……

Need I say more?

Both kids ate every bite of their macaroni and didn’t even notice I had swapped the noodles for a healthier version! I was glad to see that they both ate without complaint, and even more glad that this mac and cheese version was healthier for their hearts (ours, too) provided them with 100% whole grain, and plenty of fiber as well. Because this swap was SO incredibly easy, I will continue to purchase Anthony’s whole grain products for any pasta meals we prepare in the future. Be sure to “like” Anthony’s on Facebook and receive a $1.00 off coupon so you can try it out as well.

GIVEAWAY

Ready to get healthier in your house? One lucky reader will win a Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless Steel 4-Piece 12-Quart Pasta/Steamer Set and 4 boxes of Anthony’s 100% Whole Grain Pasta!

How to Enter:

1. Tell me one recipe you would love to try on Anthony’s website!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Anthony’s Pasta (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Limited to 10 a day, please. (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog and Anthony’s Pasta on Facebook.

5. Place my blog button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 30th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion Jennifer of The Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. Thank you to Anthony’s Pasta for supplying the product for review. All opinions remain 100% mine.

Cuisinart CleanWater Water Filtration System: Review

The Cuisinart CleanWater 2 gallon Water Filtration System will be a great way for my family to get great tasting, pure water without the expense of pricey water bottles!

One 2 Gallon CleanWater Filtration System by Cuisinart, a cup of hot tea and a glass of ice water. About the CleanWater 2 gallon Water Filtration System:

“The most convenient way to enjoy cleaner, fresher water anytime you want it – chilled, hot or room temperature. The Cuisinart® CleanWater® Countertop Filtration System dispenses refreshing filtered water right from the kitchen countertop, and eliminates the need for costly bottled water alternatives. It’s healthier, smart, and simple – CleanWater® is the future of drinking water! Product features include:

2.0 gallon tank capacity
Dispenses hot (194°F), cold (44°F) and room-temperature filtered water
Blue/red LED lights indicate when water is ready
Energy Saver reduces energy usage by more than 50%
Green LED lights up when Energy Saver feature is activated (hot water is off)
Brushed stainless steel housing
Removable water tank
2 spigots
Fast water flow
Filter included
GF-80 filter reduces contaminants including (for pH level 6.5):
– Lead 98.7%
– Chlorine (taste and odor) 97.5%
– Mercury 92.8%
– Benzene 84.1%
– Cadmium 96.6%
– Copper 85.0%
– Tetrachloroethylene 92.5%
– Toluene 89.8%
Filter life is 3 months’ average household use (up to 48 gallons)”

Each week my husband or I run to the grocery store for staples which always includes a case of water. I bring two bottles of water a day to work, my husband brings two and I drink another at home during dinner. Because we are both losing weight using the Weight Watchers Points plan, we need to make sure we are getting our recommended amount of liquids! Not only are we producing a large amount of plastic waste, but we are spending lots of money on purchasing water bottles each week.

When I was introduced to the Cuisinart 2 gallon CleanWater Filtration System, I immediately saw its potential! This countertop water system fits great in my kitchen (we do not have room for a stand alone water dispensing system), matches my kitchen decor and makes grabbing water extremely convenient! By simply pressing one button, you can dispense hot, cold or room temperature water without waiting. Making a cup of hot tea and giving a cup of ice water to my 4 year old was a snap! Take a look at how it works:

In my experience, the Cuisinart was very easy to assemble and learn to use. There are a few steps you must follow in order to prepare the filter for use, but the process was simple. I like the Energy Saver feature as well which allows you to use less energy when hot water will not be needed. Need hot water? No problem! The red light will let you know when hot water is ready to dispense.

I absolutely love our Cuisinart CleanWater 2 gallon countertop water filtration system! Being able to dispense hot water at the touch of a button has saved me time in the mornings as I make my daily cup of hot tea. Having ice cold water at our fingertips has also helped me to increase my water intake as well, and my girls think it’s fun to get water from the dispenser which encourages them to drink more, too! I plan to take the Cuisinart to work so my coworkers and I can share the hot water for hot tea and hot chocolate as the weather gets cooler. It’s size will be perfect for our office space!

This system can be purchased for $149.00.