2 Spice Crafters Primo27

A few weeks ago I received a delicious package in the mail from Michael Anderson at SpiceCrafters.com, which included both its delectable Primo27 Original Blend and Seasoning Salts!  I couldn't wait to try them.  That night I grilled up some ribeye steaks for dinner and mixed up some tangy sauce to go with it, just a simple sugar-free catsup and some Primo27 original mixed in.  My husband and I were really impressed - it's got a smoky, spicy quality that would be great on a variety of foods.  Best of all, no fillers or free flow agents and it's always freshly ground.  And, priced at $7.99, it's a fantastic deal, especially considering how much spice you get! It includes allspice, annatto seed, bay leaf, chilies, cloves, cumin, fennel seed, garlic, ginger, paprika, sea salt, star anise, turmeric, and more.

A few days later I took the Primo27 Seasoning Salt over to my mother-in-law's house to make baked pork chops.  I wanted to see how it would fare against something more traditional with a houseful of picky eaters.  On half the chops I used Primo27, and on the other half I used Montreal Seasoning.  

I don't have any pictures of after they are cooked, because every single one of the Primo27 chops got devoured, and only one of the Montreal.  Seriously!  They were excellent with baked beans and applesauce.  The sweetness of the apples really lends itself well to the smoky, nutty flavors of the Primo27.  

As you may have seen in Bento #138, I made a dipping sauce with Primo27 Original.  One part sour cream, one part mayonnaise, some onion flakes, a pinch of sugar and several good shakes of the seasoning, and it made for a really yummy dip.  I can easily see this being great mixed in with hummus and served on toasted pita, and my husband really wants to see me try this on steamed shrimp.  So much more experimentation to do!  Check out SpiceCrafters here!  www.spicecrafters.com

EDIT:  Wow!  Spice Crafters sent me a code exclusively for Bentobloggy readers!  Use the code BentoBloggySpice and you will get 20% off your entire purchase!

7 PlanetBox Review!

Okay, I'm totally loving the PlanetBox.  I want to send a big thank-you to Caroline at PlanetBox for this great set!  It's a waste-free lunch container which is naturally BPA-free, easy to port around with the wonderful insulated carrying case and keeps all the foods inside separate.  The roomy inner compartments are great, and designing them with such different dimensions is genius, especially the little treat square in the center.  It's really ideal for "drier" lunch foods, but even if you have something gooey, the Little (and Big) Dippers (which have inner silicone seals) are perfect for the job.

E loves her PlanetBox, and says it's really easy to use at school.  She likes how nothing gets mushed.  And hello?  The decorative magnets are adorable!  We have the unicorns and rainbows (aww).

The insulated carry bag is really substantial, has good pockets, one of which is the perfect size for a small size .3L Sigg bottle or other such reusable bottle, or juice box.  The bag has a large mesh pocket inside for an ice pack, and on the outside there is a Velcro pocket for things like utensils, napkins, or an extra snack (it also conveniently fits the Big Dipper.)  Look at how great the Sigg fits in the elasticized outer pocket.

And never fear, it's totally dishwasher-safe and cleans up really nicely (just don't forget to remove the magnets first.)  This box will last you forever, so it's well worth the money, and it's appropriate for almost every member of the family (though babies and Fido may have trouble.)  My husband wouldn't hesitate to take this one to work, sans the happy unicorns.

Check out how versatile the PlanetBox is.

PlanetBox is a small, parent-based company who want to promote the health of children and the planet.  Go ahead and check these guys out!  If you have a PlanetBox already, what's your favorite thing about it?