At Under $120, the Dreo AirFryer Pro Max is the Must Have Family Gift This Holiday Season - Cooks Up Healthy Food in Less Time, Without Sacrificing Taste! (Review)

Disclosure: I was provided with a sample in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

Buy now from Amazon for only $119.99

*As of this post there is a $10 off coupon you can clip to make it only $109.99

It seems like nowadays more and more people are using an air fryer to do most of their cooking in the kitchen.  But, with all the different air fryers available for purchase, which ones actually do what they say they will, and which ones will not break the bank?  I bought an air fryer a couple years ago when the craze of air fryers was just starting. I spent over $250 for one, and less than 3 months later it stopped working.  I reached out the manufacturer and just my luck, they were no longer in business.  After that time, I decided the next air fryer I would get would be either with a new stove, or down the road after I read more honest reviews and saw actual videos of the air fryers in use.  Because I bought one when they were relatively new, there weren't many reviews or videos on the different so called high end ones. I was planning to buy and air fryer this holiday season...just wanted to wait until the big Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals dropped. But, before I could get one, I was contacted by the folks at Dreo to see if I wanted to review their Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer, which is available through Amazon for under $120, and had 5 star reviews.  Along with the reviews were videos and photos of the air fryer, which gave me a sense of relief as I could see that this wasn't going to be another flop air fryer. I jumped at the opportunity to review the Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer, and am so glad that I did, I have been using this air fryer 4-5 days a week, to cook up a quick lunch or dinner, and have even been tweaking family favorite dishes and baked treats to cook up in my new Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer, in less time.  

This chicken cooked up in 24 minutes -- 12 minutes each side. 

I like how when I cook things like chicken, it gets nice and crispy on the outside, but, as soon as you bite into it, it is juicy and full of flavor.  You can't get that with frying food or baking it for upwards of an hour.   Another neat feature of the Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer which I am loving and that sets this particular air fryer apart from others on the market is that it has a transparent viewing window, which lets your catch a glimpse of your food without needing to open the basket and mess up the temperature inside.  My other air fryer didn't have this, and I don't think I have seen any other air fryers on the market with this see-through window.  My girls love walking into the kitchen and sneaking a peak to see what I am cooking. Or, if they are making something with the air fryer, they don't have to wait to the end to see how their food is coming along, as they can look at it whenever they want, all through the quick cooking process.

Like I said, I have owned the Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer for about a month now, and have been using it every week.  After the first few days of using it, I found myself looking through the recipe book included with the air fryer to flag recipes I wanted to try.  From entrees and appetizer, to desserts and snacks and even side dishes, the free recipe book has over 100 recipes to try with your new Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer.  I told the girls the other day that we will try and make every one of the recipes, and mark them with how good they taste and if we would make them again.  We started a couple weeks ago, and so far we have made 10 recipes from the Dreo recipe book, and all of them have been a hit with my family, and marked as ones we would try again. I am guessing with this streak that the same will be true for all the additional recipes we will be making and enjoying.

In addition to trying the recipes shared by Dreo, I have also been tweaking my own recipes so that I can use the Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer and cut down on cook time. As a busy mom on the go, and now with more and more things opening back up and my girls' having more extra curricular activities taking place in person, I am finding we are back to being on the go, or coming home later than usual in the evening from things.  The last thing I want to do after a long day out and about is be stuck in the kitchen cooking up an entree and sides, only to have to do the dishes right after.  But, thanks to welcoming the Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer in my home, it has become a life saver and time saver.  I am now able to cook up healthy, wholesome meals for my family without skimping on taste or quality just to get it out of the kitchen and on the table.  And, even my pickiest of eaters, my older daughter, is loving being a taste testing of all the dishes I am preparing with this air fryer.  She really likes how the food is juicy and full of flavor on the inside, as do the rest of my family.  I was also able to tweak an apple cider donuts recipe and have been whipping them out for a quick mid-day snack for my girls.

Here are just some of the features of the Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer, which make this a must own air fryer for families looking to invest in one, or have been looking for ways to cut down on meal prep without sacrificing taste, so that they can spend more time with their family...

"With a large capacity, this Dreo 6.8-quart air fryer is a kitchen essential every family of 3-6 should have. This smart air fryer employs max 450℉ and advanced HeatWrap technology to cook food faster and more evenly through 360-degree hot air circulation. The powerful touchscreen enables you to quick start with one touch, or customize cooking mode, time and temperature to your preferences."

Features:

"Integration of Taste and Health: Dreo Air fryer features a systematic design with an oven-grade smart temperature control system to make the ingredients crispy outside and tender inside. Enjoy healthier food with a better taste thanks to the 360°hot air circulation heating your food evenly.

Cut Off 30% Cooking Time: 450°F industry-leading temperature plus the 360°hot air circulation wrap your food in high heat to get it ready quicker with less fuss. A 6.8QT basket serves 3 to 5 people at one go. People with a tight schedule can get their breakfast, lunch and dinner ready in a split second.

All-in-One: No need to buy another cooking machine for different purposes. Dreo is an all-rounder with a temperature from 100℉ to 450℉, 5 cooking modes, and 6 presets. Making yogurt, dries fruit, and roasting steak, poultry as your preferences for a more customizable cooking experience.

Transparent Viewing Window: Dreo’s one-of-a-kind viewing window with an ergonomic design lets you check your food status anytime without drawing out the basket. Minimize the cooking time and maximize the fun by watching how the ingredients change by the cooking process.

Free Recipes with 100 Dishes: A free cookbook covering entrées, appetizers, desserts, snacks, and side dishes is included in the package. Open the book and get a quick idea to satiate your multi-cuisine food cravings. We will keep updating the e-recipes to bring more flavors to your table.

ETL-listed Design & Easy Cleaning: Double-layer insulated basket protects your hands against the heat, while the built-in sensor automatically pauses and resumes heating to avoid overheating. The BPA-free coating makes it non-stick for easier cleaning. Dishwasher-safe design for added convenience."

Included components: 100 Free Recipes, Insulated Basket and a Non-stick Plate

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With the holidays fast approaching, why not consider making the Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer the family gift that Santa brings you?  This is definitely one gift you will love and use time and again.  And, once you start cooking with the air fryer you will wonder why you waited so long to get one, or have lived without an air fryer in your life.  I am so glad I gave the Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer a chance after my previous poor experience with an air fryer purchase.  I haven't run into an issues with it, and can see why it continues to get 5 star reviews on Amazon from all the happy customers who have purchased it and love it, just like I do!

Right now you can score the Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer for only $109.99 (be sure to clip the $10 off coupon) -- which is a steal compared to other air fryers on the market. And, remember this one comes with a transparent viewing window so you can check on your food while it cooks -- a feature I haven't seen with other air fryers.  

Once you try this air fryer, you will be raving about it, just like I have been doing with this post, and to family and friends.  Just the other night I had family over and cooked them up my famous Chinese sticky chicken.  Everyone thought I had changed up the recipe as this time around the chicken was really moist and full of flavor, while having a nice crisp skin on the outside.  They liked the crunch they got when they bit into it, and then were meant with a juicy inside.  I should have bought more chicken, as everyone kept reaching for seconds and then thirds, before it was all gone.  I ended up sharing my secret to getting perfectly cooked chicken with crispy skin outside and juice inside -- thanks to my Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer. And, clean up is a breeze as you can pop the basket in your dishwasher. But, you will find no scrubbing is needed to get any sticky residue on the basket, as it has a BPA-FREE coating that makes it non-stick, and easy to clean.  What more can you ask for with this air fryer? It has checked off all the boxes of features I want in an air fryer, while offering so many more great features that make it stand apart from other air fryer brands on the market. 

So, what are you waiting for? Head on over to Amazon and purchase your own Dreo 6.8-Quart Smart Air Fryer, and then get ready to cook and make delicious meals and treats for your family, in less time than you normally would spend cooking with your stove top or oven.

Disclosure: I was provided with a sample in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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The Spice Lab's Award-Winning Selection of BBQ Rub and Seasoning Gift Sets Make for a Great Idea for Home Cooks and Foodies! (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent a sample from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

A few years ago I was introduced to The Spice Lab, thanks to my holiday gift guide.  I was looking for unique gift ideas for foodies and cooks that would make for a great stand out gift, and found myself stumbling upon the The Spice Lab website, and their wide variety of herbs and spices, salts, and more, available online at https://spices.com/.  After reaching out to the folks at The Spice Lab, they graciously sent along a spice set for me to review. From that point on, I have been hooked on their spices and regularly gift their spice and tea sets to family and friends.  And, this year, with most gift giving being done through mailed gifts, I wanted to either introduce you to The Spice Lab, or keep them on your radar, as they ship nationwide, and offer a wonderful array of spices and gift sets that are beautifully packaged and ready to gift -- no need to wrap for many of their sets, including the Taste of America, which they recently sent my way to sample and cook with.

A bow is optional -- But, this and other gift sets from The Spice Lab are packaged and ready to gift or send through the mail this holiday season. :-)

The Spice Lab’s Seasoning Collections make great gifts for those who like to cook and try new tastes and flavors, as well as foodies who are looking to expand their palettes and try new seasoning blends.  Tequila lovers will also rejoice when they unwrap pink Himalayan shot glasses (see my previous feature which features these salt shooters) on Christmas morning from The Spice Lab.  So, as you can see, you can get the majority of the people on your holiday shopping list checked off just by visiting and shopping the online The Spice Lab store. :-)  Today, though, I wanted to showcase the different seasoning gift sets available from this woman-owned and family-run business.  

Now I know what you are thinking...what sets these spices and gift sets apart from others online?  First off, The Spice Lab's award-winning line of premium spice blends and rubs are carefully crafted and can transform a simple dinner dish into a flavorful one, that will have the whole family raving about your cooking and how delicious it tastes. :-)  Even though I learned cooking and baking from my mother and Italian grandmother, it wasn't until I was out on my own at college that I started to experiment with herbs and spices. Yes, there were many fails with combining flavors or thinking a certain spice would elevate a dish, but more times than not, I found myself being introduced to unique and flavorful spices that I learned to cook and season with, and continue to use to this day.  The kitchen is my favorite room in the house, and whenever I have extra time to myself, you will usually find me in the kitchen trying out new recipes or just cooking up a tasty meal or baking sweet treats for my family.  I love food, and experimenting with flavors, and thanks to The Spice Lab, I have been able to use premium spices and herbs in my cooking, that really make my dishes pop and wow!

So, when I received the Taste of America gift set the other day from the folks at The Spice Lab, I was excited and couldn't wait to get in the kitchen to try out the four different seasoning blends that make up this collection. Included with the gift set were the following:

Buy now for only $24.95

• Key West Seafood - Flavorful blend of onion, garlic, thyme and other spices
• Everything + More - All the popular bagel toppings plush hot pepper flakes
• Fiery Southern Charm - Smoky and spicy, adding a little sass to any dish
• Chicago Chop - Super savory and smoky, perfect for pork chops, ribs and roasts

I have been having so much fun using these four different spice blends.  From adding a flavorful spice blend to shrimp to adding a hint of spice of spice to steak dishes, my family has been loving all the kicked up spice dishes I have been serving them. They have even tried to guess which spices they are tasting in each dish, or which particular spice jar from The Spice Lab I have been using. :-)  What is go great about these spice blends is that a little goes a long way, so these spices will last you through many dishes and recipes. 

In addition to the Taste of American gift set, I was also set a bottle of The Spice Lab's popular pumpkin spice. And, boy have I been having fun using this spice blend in my fall baking.  From pumpkin pies and scones, to pumpkin chocolate chip bread and muffins and even pumpkin spiced pancakes the other day, my family has been enjoying family favorite recipes I have cooked up over the years for them when "pumpkin spice" is in season.  I also was able to try out a few new recipes that I found over at the The Spice Lab website under their recipes tab, including their pumpkin cheesecake bars, which melted in our mouths and left us wanting another bar. :-)  

Like I mentioned in the beginning of my post, I have been a fan of the spices and herbs from The Spice Lab, and usually fill my pantry with their jars.  I will definitely be adding more jars of their pumpkin spice so I have to get me through all my fall and winter baking.  Plus, it gives me an excuse to get in the kitchen to try out new recipes, as I have all these amazing premium spice blends on hand. :-)

If you love to cook or bake, or just love adding a shake here and there of a tasty spice blend, I highly recommend you checking out The Spice Lab website and their product offering. Even if you are a novice cook, or finding that you have to cook more now that you are home with family during Covid, the spices and gift sets are perfect for you, as you can add them to all your dishes -- fish, chicken, steak, pork, etc.  

And, with a vast assortment of recipes and ideas available at The Spice Lab website, you can easily grab a bottle of their spice blend and see what you can cook up and season with this particular blend.  You will have so much fun experimenting with new seasoning blends and spices, and like me, will find yourself loving the premium spice blends from The Spice Lab. Once you give them a try, you will see why I love them, and they are award-winning!  So, what are you waiting for? 

Head on over to The Spice Lab website and browse their gift sets, salts and more, and start checking off all those people on your holiday shopping list. And, be sure to pick up some products for you to try and enjoy, too! :-)

Disclosure: I was sent a sample from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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Holiday Gift Ideas -- Books for Cake Boss Fans - Both Which Include Easy to Prepare Italian Recipes (Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

I keep telling my husband every time he catches me looking at cookbooks when we are out shopping or at book fairs is "You can't have enough cookbooks."  Don't you feel the same. :-)  I love going through my closet full of cookbooks, then pulling out a few to flip through and pick recipes from to make for the holidays.  And, now that my girls are bigger and love to help out in the kitchen, we have been hard at work making cupcakes and cookies, trying to choose which ones we will make to bring to Savannah's preschool holiday party, give as gifts and leave for Santa.  

In addition to collecting cookbooks about baking, I am also a fan of Italian recipe cookbooks which share authentic Italian recipes.  Growing up in an Italian family and having Wednesday Pasta nights and Sunday family dinners which usually consisted of lasagna with homemade meatballs and sauce, I am always looking for recipes to try out, in hopes to find one similar to what my grandmother used to make.  See, my grandmother never wrote down her recipes.  They were in her head where they were being stored for safe keeping, as she liked to say.  But, she never thought of what would happen when she got older and couldn't cook anymore or would get dementia and forget everything.  

My mom and I tried to figure out recipes by watching her make our favorite family dishes and desserts, but the hard part was getting down the exact measurements.  My grandmother would use her hand to measure teaspoons and tablespoons and eyeball liquids.  Through trial and error, my mom and I continue to try to make my grandmother's favorites, even though they aren't spot on.  I always hope to find a similar recipe in authentic Italian cookbooks that would give me a better sense of the measurements she used, seeing that I know the exact ingredients.  So, this is another reason, in addition to just loving to collect cookbooks, that I seek out cookbooks when out and about.

A couple Christmas' ago my husband surprised me with a couple Cake Boss cookbooks, which I have some great recipes in, and will full from the bookshelf whenever I find myself with time to play around in the kitchen. So, when I was recently approached and offered the chance to review Cake Boss products, in addition to Buddy's coffee line I shared in an earlier post, I jumped at the opportunity to review the following two cookbooks, to add to my growing collection....

Buy now in Hard Cover from Amazon for only $18.02

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books; 1ST edition (November 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439183511
• ISBN-13: 978-1439183519
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.9 x 8.2 inches

About this book:

• "Television viewers have fallen in love with Buddy Valastro, master cake maker, and his funny and fiery family, proprietors of Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey, on the smash hit TLC series Cake Boss. Now, to coincide with Carlo’s 100th anniversary, cake designer extraordinaire Buddy Valastro brings together his passion for baking and his high-energy family stories in the pages of this charming, heartwarming book—complete with 25 recipes and tips that will make every reader the “cake boss” of their own kitchen.
              Buddy’s beautifully designed cakes are the stuff of legend—and so is the remarkable story of his father, a beloved pillar of the community and himself a talented baker who set the stage for his family’s rise to the pinnacle of their industry. Cake Boss recounts the story of Buddy’s life and of his family’s bakeshop, originally established in 1910 and now a Hoboken, New Jersey, landmark and culinary tourist destination. Here also are twenty-five recipes for Carlo’s Bakery’s most sought-after pastries, pies, cupcakes, and cakes, an irresistible combination of time-tested old-world recipes and modern creations, all founded on a rock-solid “old-school” baking foundation and classic techniques.
              This is the incredible true story of how Carlo’s Bakery came to be, how one hard-working family realized their patriarch’s dream of making their beloved bake shop a household name. The special bond and loving dynamic of the Valastro clan make this an uncommonly touching and truly inspiring memoir."

My Thoughts:

Even though this book only has 25 recipes, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the whole story about Buddy and how his dream and love of having a bake shop came about.  This personal memoir shares all about this talented baker and his family, while also including here and there tips and tricks you can use in the kitchen, as well.  Fans of Buddy and his TLC series will love reading this uplifting story that includes the ups and downs that both he and his family who immigrated to US had to go through, in order to get where they are today.

And, while Buddy recently found himself in the spotlight for a DUI that is still under investigation, you can't let this one event tarnish his success in the culinary world.  He truly is a talented baker and makes the most amazing bakes and pastries, that even a novice home baker can re-create at home with recipes he shares in this and his other cookbooks, including his famous bakery cannoli recipe (which you will find in this memoir book).

Buy now in hard cover format for only $20.20 from Amazon.

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books (November 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451674309
• ISBN-13: 978-1451674309
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 1.2 x 9.1 inches

About this book:

"TLC’s beloved Buddy Valastro is not only a master baker, he’s also a great cook—the boss of his home kitchen as well as of his famous bakery, Carlo’s Bake Shop. Home cooking is even more vital for the Valastro family than the work they do at the bakery. Every Sunday, the whole clan gathers to cook and eat Sunday Gravy—their family recipe for hearty tomato sauce. These nourishing meals are the glue of their family. Cooking Italian with the Cake Boss shares 100 delicious Italian- American recipes beloved by Buddy’s family, from his grandmother’s secret dishes to Buddy’s personal favorites, with Buddy’s own signature touches that make dinner a family event. 

Buddy Valastro is renowned worldwide as the Cake Boss, but Buddy knows far more than just desserts. He makes classic dishes like Pasta Carbonara, Shrimp Scampi, and Eggplant Parmesan even more irresistible with his singular flair and with old-school tips passed down through generations. With his friendly charm, he guides even novice cooks from appetizers through more complicated dishes, and all 100 easy-to-follow recipes use ingredients that are obtainable and affordable. Your family will love sitting down at the table to eat Steak alla Buddy, Auntie Anna’s Manicotti, Mozzarella-and- Sausage-Stuffed Chicken, Veal Saltimbocca, Buddy’s Swiss Chard, and mouthwatering desserts like Lemon Granita, Apple Snacking Cake, Cocoa-Hazelnut Cream with Berries, and Rockin’ Rice Pudding. 

Buddy’s recipes allow home cooks to become the bosses of their own kitchens, and anyone will be able to whip up a tasty and nutritious Italian dinner. Filled with luscious full-color photography and with stories from the irrepressible Valastro clan, Cooking Italian with the Cake Boss shows how to create new takes on traditional dishes that will make your famiglia happy. "

My Thoughts:

Out of all the Italian cookbooks I own, this one offers some of the closest recipes of what my grandmother used to make for my family.  I have had a blast trying out many of the 100 recipes that you will find in this coobook, chock full of authentic Italian dishes and desserts.  

When I shop for cookbooks, I usually look for ones that include full-color photos of the food, as I like to see what the recipe looks like and compare how it looks in the book to what I make.  This Cake Boss cookbook is filled not only with full-color photos, but also shares personal stories from Buddy and his family about the significance of the recipes and the Valastro clan.

Here are just some of the recipes you will find in this cookbook, that are easy to make and taste amazing...

• Minestone Soup
• Kids' Cavetelli with Broccoli
• Sunday Gravy
• Steak Piazzaiola
• Stuffed Peppers
• Gremolata
• Make-Ahead Breadcrumbs
• Pesto Chicken Panini
• Pizza with Prosciutto, Arugula, Tomatoes and Shaved Parmesan
• Pizza Bread
• Buddy's Chopped Pantry Salad
• Stuffed Mushrooms
• Bruschetta

This is one cookbook I thoroughly enjoyed, and found myself reading cover to cover.  And, with the inclusion of the family stories, its makes the cookbook feel more homey and makes you want to try out each of the recipes or want to have family over to enjoy a homecooked meal on Sunday.

You can learn more about Buddy and his family, as well as these and other cookbooks and show memorabilia available by visiting the official TLC The Cake Boss website at http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/cake-boss, as well as shopping the TLC Cake Boss online store. 

Disclosure:  I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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