Kraft Is Now Selling Mac and Cheese Topping in a Jar & Goodbye Picky Eating

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 31, 2020

Does it seem like your kids could survive entirely on mac and cheese? Now you can bring the flavor they crave to other foods with Kraft’s new Macaroni and Cheese Topping Sauce or Sprinkle.

If your kids love the taste of mac and cheese, then maybe they’ll be willing to eat broccoli covered in cheese flavoring. You can whip the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Topping into a sauce with milk and butter just like you do when you make a box of Kraft’s Macaroni and Cheese. You can also simply sprinkle the stuff over veggies or really anything that sounds like it might be more appealing with a dose of cheddar flavor.

The only tricky part is tracking some down. The 20-ounce shaker of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Topping Sauce or Sprinkle is currently available at east coast based wholesale club, BJ’s for $6.99.

If you don’t live in the region of a BJ’s, you can still score the stuff online on Amazon and eBay, but you’ll have to pay a steeper price. If it gets your picky eater to try some veggies, it just might be worth it.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Amazon

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These Succulent Trios Are Under $20 & It’s Time for a Costco Run

by Erica LoopJanuary 16, 2020

The distinct chill of winter (not to mention the soul-crushing snow) means your gardening dreams are a no-go. That is, unless you pick up this wildly popular pack of succulents from Costco!

Get your indoor grow on with the three-pack of plants that are not only awesomely adorable, but oh-so-inexpensive.

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How much will you pay for three five-inch succulents? While prices vary somewhat by region, some Costco shoppers have scored the succulents for under $20. Instagram user Costco Deals recently posted a pic of an entire rack filled with plants, advertising the three-packs for only $19.99.

Not only do you get the three five-inch plants, but each succulent also comes in its very own white planter pot. Check with your local Costco for prices on this pint-sized trio.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Costco Deals via Instagram

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Build-A-Bear Just Revealed the New Girl Scout Cookie Bear

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 14, 2020

Girl Scout Cookie season is in full swing, which also means it’s time for a brand new cookie-inspired Build-A-Bear.

Build-A-Bear Workshop just revealed the new Girl Scouts Coconut Caramel Cookie Bear. Much like the cookie, the bear features a swirling pattern of caramel and brown-colored fur and it can be scented to smell like just like the Girl Scout cookie it’s named for.

You might be scratching your head wondering why the bear is named Coconut Caramel and not Caramel Delight or Samoa. Depending upon the region you live in, the name, which refers to the chocolate and caramel-coated cookie topped with toasted coconut, varies. So it only makes sense that the bear has a name fitting of both popular varieties.

In addition to the Girl Scouts Coconut Caramel Cookie Bear, Build-A-Bear Workshop also has new outfits and accessories to expand its Girl Scouts of the USA collection.

The new bear starts at $22 and is available online now. It will roll out in stores on Jan. 30.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Build-A-Bear

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What’s the Most Popular Holiday Cookie in Your State?

by Jennifer SwartvagherDecember 16, 2019

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without cookies. The month of December is marked by cookie swaps, gingerbread house decorating, and family baking days.

So not surprisingly General Mills loves this time of year. So much so that they decided to ring in the holiday season with the “most-clicked”holiday cookies from each state.

The top cookies are those recipes most visited across Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, and Tablespoon.

Did your favorite holiday cookie make the list for your state?

Nothing beats a warm chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven. Since it stands as the number one searched recipe year-round, and is in the top spot in 22 states, General Mills decided to let that one sit out for this survey.

That being said, Peanut Butter Blossoms are the most-clicked upon holiday cookie recipe. This popular cookie is a favorite in seven states – Florida, Pennsylvania, California, Kentucky, Nevada, South Carolina, and Wyoming.

Cathy Swanson Wheaton, executive editor behind your favorite Pillsbury and Betty Crocker cookbooks, says a state’s favorite cookie often speaks to the culture and heritage of the region.

“People like a nod to something familiar,” says Wheaton. “It’s really fun to see that some of the eastern states selected an Italian cookie as their favorite, and I think that might speak to their Italian heritage. And some of the southern states tended to choose nut-based recipes. For example, Georgia picked a pecan recipe and they’re the number one pecan producer in the United States.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of General Mills

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The New Cartoon Network Hotel Is Taking Reservations for Next Summer

by Shahrzad WarkentinDecember 1, 2019

Cartoon fans are just a few short months away from the hotel stay of their dreams. The new Cartoon Network Hotel is now taking reservations for its opening in June 2020.

When you enter the lobby at the new Cartoon Network Hotel in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania you’ll be greeted by the Cartoon Crew who will check you in. Each guest room is decked out in one of six Cartoon Network series themes, including The Amazing World of Gumball, Adventure Time, Ben 10, The Powerpuff Girls, Steven Universe and We Bare Bears.

The 165-room resort will also feature an indoor resort pool, an outdoor waterpark, a game room, a Cartoon Network Store and character-themed dining, like the Bearista Cafe and the Cartoon Kitchen where you’ll see your favorite characters whipping up your meals.

“The Cartoon Network Hotel will be unlike any other property in the region,” Rolf Paegert, chief operating officer of Palace Entertainment said in a statement. “Cartoon Network characters and theming will bring the property to life and offer magical, interactive experiences around every turn. This hotel is going to set the standard for guest-focused, themed lodging immersion.”

The Cartoon Network Hotel is set to open in June 2020, but the resort is already taking reservations now. Rooms start at $289 per night. Guests can book online here.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Cartoon Network

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The CDC & FDA Issue Recall Alert for Romaine Lettuce from Salinas, California

by Erica LoopNovember 25, 2019

If romaine is on your Thanksgiving menu, you may need to pick a substitute, pronto. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a food safety alert for romaine lettuce after 40 reported cases of E. coli O157:H7 infections across 16 states.

The lettuce, harvested from the Salinas, California growing region, has caused 28 hospitalizations so far.

CDC’s warning not to eat romaine lettuce from the Salinas, California, growing region includes ALL types of romaine (whole head, hearts of romaine, salad mixes, organic, etc.). Throw them away. Read more about the investigation: https://t.co/sZvP3yMmqV pic.twitter.com/8AjFzROkXm

— CDC (@CDCgov) November 22, 2019

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website, “At this time, romaine lettuce that was harvested outside of the Salinas region has not been implicated in this outbreak investigation. Hydroponically- and greenhouse-grown romaine, which is voluntarily labeled as “indoor grown,” from any region does not appear to be related to the current outbreak.”

How can you tell if your romaine is unsafe to eat? The CDC recommends that consumers look at the label for the harvest location. All types of romaine, including hearts of romaine, whole heads, packages of pre-cut lettuce and salad mixes, could contain the affected lettuce. The recalled romaine products have “use by” dates between Oct. 20 and Nov. 1, 2019 and the establishment number EST. 18502B inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Do not consume lettuce labeled Salinas or those with no marked growing region. Throw the lettuce away and thoroughly wash and sanitize all surfaces the lettuce came in contact with.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Liz Muir via Flickr

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Impossible Burgers Are Rolling Out In Grocery Stores for the First Time

by Shahrzad WarkentinSeptember 23, 2019

It seems everywhere you turn there’s a new Impossible Burger rolling out on restaurant menus these days, but what if you prefer to do the cooking yourself? Now you finally can. Impossible Burgers are available in grocery stores for the first time.

It was only a matter of time before the popular plant-based burgers hit store shelves and now the moment has finally arrived. However, if you’re not lucky enough to reside in Los Angeles, you’ll still have to wait a little longer. Impossible Burgers are rolling out this week, but only at 27 Gelson’s Markets in Southern California.

photo: Impossible Foods

The Impossible Burger will be available in 12-ounce packages for $8.99 each. Gelson’s Markets, which clearly expects high demand for the new product, is limiting customers to 10 packages per visit. Impossible Burger says it plans to expand to stores across the country, including the East Coast, later this month and hopes to be available in every region of the United States by the middle of next year.

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In the mean time, if you really need to satisfy your hankering for plant-based meats, competitor Beyond Meat is already available in stores nationwide, including Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway, Publix, Wegmans, Target and Sprouts.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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This Is Where You Can See the Best Fall Foliage

by Shahrzad WarkentinAugust 28, 2019

There’s nothing quite like the breathtaking sight of blazing red and orange leaves to get you in the fall spirit. Thanks to this amazing interactive fall foliage map you can figure out the best times and places to see those beautiful colors from now through November.

The fall foliage season varies across the country and the peak changes from year to year based on the annual temperatures and rainfall, which means knowing when and where to visit is the key to enjoying an incredible view. Each year SmokyMountains.com creates a predictive map of the fall foliage season by using a complex algorithm that carefully analyzes several million data points, like historical temperatures and precipitation, which is used to forecast county-by-county the precise moment when peak fall will occur.

“The predictive fall leaf map helps potential travelers, photographers and leaf peepers determine the precise future date that the leaves will peak in each area of the continental United States,” explains the creator of the map data scientist and CTO Wes Melton. “By utilizing the date selector at the bottom of the map, the user can visually understand how fall will progress over a region. We believe this interactive tool will enable travelers to take more meaningful fall vacations, capture beautiful fall photos and enjoy the natural beauty of autumn. Our nationwide fall foliage prediction map is unique––it is one of the only fall leaf tools that provides accurate predictions for the entire continental United States.”

While no prediction is 100 percent accurate, the map is an excellent guideline if you’re making travel plans around the peak foliage times. According to this year’s map, the first peak will begin at the end of September with most of the country passing the peak by the beginning of November.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Boudewijn Huysmans via Unsplash

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Grubhub Reveals the Top Dining Trends of the Year

by Shahrzad WarkentinJuly 1, 2019

Summer has arrived and with it the perfect excuse to forgo cranking up the oven and beat the heat with a family dinner you didn’t have to cook. If you’re looking for a little inspiration on where to dine, Grubhub has revealed the top dining trends of the year so far.

Grubhub’s report titled State of the Plate uses data collected from more than half a million orders placed on an average day through its platform to determine the trendiest dining options. So what did the report find?

photo: Shahrzad Warkentin

One clear choice is maintaining a steady rise in popularity: vegan and vegetarian dining. According to the report, vegan-friendly ordering has risen by 25% so far in 2019, with orders for the Impossible Burger increasing by 82 percent.

The following cities were the top spots in the country for ordering vegan:

Los Angeles, CA
Brooklyn, NY
Portland, OR
Las Vegas, NV
Rochester, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Detroit, MI
San Diego, CA

The Impossible Burger also topped the lists of favorites by region in both the West and Midwest.

The most popular dishes to order vary by season, with heartier comfort foods like mushroom stroganoff and empanadas trending in the winter, and lighter options, like cauliflower bites and mixed berry acai bowls growing in the spring. Grubhub predicts that the summer trends will include barbecue pork buns, truffle parm fries and quinoa and arugula salad.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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This Company Is about to Revolutionize How to Shop Green

by Erica LoopMay 22, 2019

Get ready for a new way to help the planet, while shopping for the brands you know, love and use pretty much daily. Loop is a new service, providing Kroger and Walgreens customers with an eco-friendly option that doesn’t involve hauling packed-to-the-lid recycling cans to the curb.

So what exactly is Loop? It’s all in the name! This circular service (get it—like a loop?) lets you buy your fave products, use them and send the packaging back. The packaging is then cleaned, refilled and reused. And it all comes straight to your doorstep in a reusable shipping tote.

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Loop recently launched a pilot program in select states. If you live in the Mid-Atlantic region of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland or Washington, D.C., you’re in luck. These states are the first to get the the green goodness that comes with this low- to no-waste shopping option.

Jessica Adelman, Kroger’s group vice president of corporate affairs, said in a press release, “We believe in giving our customers sustainable packaging choices they can feel good about. As the exclusive grocery retail partner for Loop in the United States, Kroger is taking another big step toward a world with zero waste.”

Lauren Brindley, Walgreens group vice president of beauty and personal care, echoed Adelman’s statement, saying, “Innovative collaborations with partners like Loop are critical to solving the complex issue of reducing single-use plastics. Our customers look to us to innovate so that together we can reduce waste and increase re-use.”

Currently well-known (and well-loved) brands such as Proctor & Gamble, Unilever, Nestle, The Clorox Company, The Body Shop, Colgate-Palmolive, SC Johnson, The Honest Company, PepsiCo and a growing list of others are on board with Loop. To start “looping,” visit Loop, Walgreens or Kroger online. Click on “Join Loop” to start the application process. After filling out the online form, Loop will let you know if you’re in an area the program serves and when a spot opens up.

During the pilot phase Loop only has a select number of openings—so it’s possible you’ll end up on a waiting list. But that shouldn’t stop you from trying this eco-awesome idea!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Loop via Instagram

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