Torch Coffee - Review and Exclusive Promo Code at the end

I've said several times that "Coffee" is not the only topic on this blog, but it is certainly our "original topic", it is what got this blog started and it is definitely what many times helps me focus so I can gather my ideas and write a post... Recently I heard that a friend (his name is Josh) joined the Torch Coffee Roasters Team  and I just knew it was the PERFECT job for him, he has great people skills, has always loved (almost to an addiction point) coffee and also loves serving the community.... Torch Coffee Roasters is allowing him to apply all of these strengths into this job! If you're interested to learn more about him, what he's doing with this company or if you'd like to learn about their ministry in China and how the need your prayers to spread their gospel allowing God to use their business please check this out.

So, intrigued by all this and wondering if it would be not only a good ministry to support but also a great product I ordered my first bag of Torch Coffee... I was excited when I received it

 I felt like a little girl on Christmas morning... so, there it was, the box and my impatience to open it... If you know my family and friends they will tell you that when I am asked for my opinion I will tell the truth... I will say it with love if I know it might hurt but I will still say it... so here goes my review for Torch:

- Shipment/Arrival: Excellent! There was no way the bag could open during the shipping process, it was well protected and safely packed in a cardboard box filled with enough protective packaging materials. It arrived quickly after I ordered.

- Packaging/Appearance: Beautiful! I loved their bag, it looks trendy and clean, keeps the coffee beans fresh and it's easy to understand, it even has a date that tells you exactly when it was roasted (mine was roasted the very day they shipped it! I am not kidding! It was that fresh)

Flavor: I got the SAN FRANCISCO Blend, it was honestly delicious and smooth but it's more for someone who is not a big fan of strong coffee, this blend was silky, very mild and not bitter... I love it for a relaxing night when you don't want a blend that will keep you awake all night. Hubby wasn't crazy about it, he LOVES CRAZY STRONG coffee (no cream, no sugar for him)... But I do recommend this one especially for that person that you want to "get started" into the coffee habit and they haven't gotten into it because they don't like the bitterness of coffee. I would almost dare to say this one has a certain "sweetness" to it.

PRICE:  I find it to be on the expensive side but still affordable (especially if you take advantage of the promo code I am sharing in this post),  I also find it to be worth the price because not only you'll be getting a great cup of gourmet coffee and a wonderful experience but also the satisfaction of knowing you're also helping a business with values, that has a vision for helping others, provide jobs here and abroad.

Their website: Torch Coffee Roasters

Look for yourself! I love their FB page as well, the customer service is fantastic and they keep their "audience" engaged, they communicate about what they're doing, where they're going and I love their videos as well. You should for sure check them out.

I love their wide selection of Gourmet Coffee... They have a special blend for every palate! Just check out their list:


So now... let's get to the part you've been waiting for. Today you'll get the opportunity to taste this coffee for a lot less! I am going to give you a 40% coupon (Courtesy of Torch) exclusive for the "The Coffee Shop" readers and followers. No need for "entry" you don't even have to "leave a comment" here or give me a "Like" on FB... (I'll love it if you do though) just check them out, get your first bag of Torch Coffee and you'll want more! ...  So... visit the Torch Coffee Store, select your favorite blend (Josh - my friend at Torch - highly recommends: "Season 2 Espresso" directly from Costa Rica (and their strongest roast), "El Durazno" from Chiapas, Mx (Chiapas has some of the best coffee in the world!) or Josh's  favorite blends, any of their "Kenyan's blends", he says they're fruity and delicious!  add your favorite (or favorites) to your cart and make sure you enter the following promo code: love4coffee (yes, like my blog address), share it with friends and come back for more, I will continue to share news and specials offers from Torch in the future, Torch and I are already planning on future deals for you!

Now... what do I gain from all this? Well, the satisfaction of helping a good, honest company with a great, high quality and delicious product and the great feeling of sharing a great deal with my readers... I am in no way compensated or receive any money in exchange for this review/promo

Just wanted to get that out of the way in case you were thinking something of the sorts.

again... Get your 40% discount over your total purchase at: Torch Coffee Store with the

love4coffee

promo code at checkout. You can't pass this opportunity. You can even buy several bags to give out as Christmas gifts... It will be PERFECT! 

Note: This code will be valid for a month and will expire on 11/26/2014

 © Paloma K.

Trim Healthy Mama - Mexican Style! S, E or FP

When people ask me: "Do you cook Mexican all the time?" I must admit that I don't always know what to say so I usually say "I guess" ... I am a Mexican, born and raised there, so whatever I cook I guess has the "Mexican flare" to it... it doesn't mean that I always cook what American people consider Mexican, it doesn't mean that I am always eating "chimichangas" (which by the way I've never had one) or "burritos" (which, I always considered "American food" growing up), it doesn't mean that I am always making "taco soup" or "taco salad" (I came to know those existed when I moved to the USA... I've never made them, btw, I should try those!) so, I guess that's why I don't know what to respond. I am always cooking rice, chicken, beef, "meatloaf" (pastel de carne), etc. Yes I do make "tostadas and tacos" but I also cook "guisados" (like casserole dishes I guess), pasta, etc... and even when I have indeed introduced other foods that I never ate while growing up in Mexico (like barley, which I LOVE!) and I do use some other seasonings that I never used to before (like Italian seasoning) I guess my food can always be considered "Mexican" because, well... that's what I am.

So... now that I am on the Trim Healthy Mama plan, I've been seeing a lot of dishes and recipes but not many of them entirely "satisfy my Mexican palate", I thought I would cook the "way I know to" just making sure I combine the ingredients the right way, the THM way, to make sure I stay on plan... and I am going to share one of my dishes with you... This one can be easily modified and used as FP, S or E... Here it goes:

Picture taken by Rhonda from the Trim Healthy Mama Team

Note: The picture is NOW great!!! Thank you Rhonda! It is beautiful!

Get your own Mexican style placemat here

Chicken with Zucchini THM dish - Mexican style
Original dish is naturally Gluten Free
Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 big chicken breasts (or 3-4 smaller ones)
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/2 white onion (chopped)
• 1 big clove of garlic (finely chopped)
• 1 green bell pepper (chopped, discard the seeds)
• 3/4 cup tomato sauce (make sure there's no added sugar)
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 3 zucchinis (cubed) (I even used 2 zucchinis and 1 yellow squash)
• salt to taste

Directions:

• Place the chicken, water, onion, garlic and salt in a large skillet, cover with a tight lid and let it cook in medium/low heat until the chicken is cooked through (about 30 mins).
• Remove the chicken breasts from the skillet, let them cool a little bit, while they cool add the tomato sauce, cumin and bell pepper to the water (add a bit more liquid if necessary, there should be enough sauce up to 1/2" high in the pan).
• Cover the pan with the lid and let the sauce simmer in low heat while you shred the chicken breasts with two forks (or with your fingers if it's cool enough to handle).
• Return the shredded chicken to the pan and incorporate the zucchini, cover and let it all cook together until the zucchini is cooked through (about 10 more minutes), taste and add a bit more salt to taste if needed. Serve immediately.

FOR FP:

Serve and top with some 0% Greek yogurt next to a big green salad dressed with some balsamic vinegar. You can sprinkle some fresh chopped cilantro on top of your chicken dish.

FOR S:

You can substitute chicken breast for chicken thighs, you can serve with a side of avocado sprinkled with salt or if you're not a purist you can even eat it in 2 low carb (3 net carb) mission flour tortillas topped with sour cream (Don't forget your avocado), iceberg lettuce and cucumbers are a great accompaniment for these flavors! Make a good side salad.

FOR E:

You can serve it with 1/2 cup cooked brown rice (don't add any oil to it) and even go for 1/4 cup of refried beans (fat free, Rosarita has great fat free beans) to go with it. Hopefully you'll make a side salad as well.

I hope you enjoy this dish as much as my family enjoys it! As you can see... I guess I do cook Mexican all the time, it's awesome to be able to stay on plan.

ETA 11/1/2014: This recipe will be promoted by the Trim Healthy Mama Team, Jessica Myers (Admin from the THM FB Group ) sent it to Pearl (one of the sisters that created this amazing Plan) and they were so interested in it that they prepared it and took the beautiful picture I am sharing with my recipe... I am honored and thankful!

© Paloma K.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links

The heart of the problem!

This heart is OK

  "The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart" - J. John

I heard this quote today on my way home after my walk/talk with my bestie... (in our talks we fix the problems of the world, we laugh, we ... well.. I am not going to go into details but I can tell you that today we even heard an 80's country song) so... during our walk today I had a few moments of "self-discovery" ... I was left thinking about the things I do and say... (oh yes... we go deep!), as soon as I got in the car I heard this "heart" quote and I was so thankful, God always finds ways to let me know He is listening, He cares and He knows of my struggles or shortcomings... I liked the quote so much that I thought I had to share...  The human heart is deceitful indeed, that's what the Bible says... the core, the source of all issues lies within the human heart. Every problem can be traced back to it... Whether it is an addiction, our self-image, etc... when the focus is on self and not the Lord, when we follow the "listen to your heart" advice we fall into the biggest trap! It sounds good to "trust the heart" but the heart is not that cute thing we draw, the heart is not that beautiful Valentine cookie of the picture... the heart is  "...deceitful above all things..." Jer. 17:9 and how could we trust the very thing that gets us in the most trouble? How can we trust the very thing that has failed time after time, generation after geneartion!?

Society tells us to "follow our heart" or "do what we think is right" ... it even sounds like a "new thing", like a "wise thing" but humans have been following that very "modern" concept since the beginning! we find time after time in the Bible, generations that were completely destroyed for "doing what was right in their own eyes", strong men of God completely destroyed for "listening to their heart" and going after the wrong woman, kings leading the people of God after false gods, fathers hurting their children for letting them do as they wanted, battles lost for following "intuition" rather than God's voice....

And yet... we want to "re-write history" and we think this "follow your heart" thing is going to somehow "work for US"

I, like you, will continue to struggle with things... just like everybody else... But today my prayer is that I will listen to God... rather than my heart.  May God continue to transform me where my focus is more and more on Him and less and less on me... less and less on others. May I listen to His voice rather than my own. May I continue to grow as He continues to complete His work in me.



© Paloma K.