Grand Prize Win on Truvia Gingerbread House Contest

Yippee! Winner on Crowdtap and Truvia Gingerbread House contest

Hello Everyone!
I would like to "Thank all of you" for sweet birthday greetings! It truly makes me happy reading all  your comments. I hope you all enjoying the LOVE month! Oh yes!! Can you believe its February already? I can't! So, let me take you back to December (hahaha) were I submitted my entry for Crowdtap and Truvia Geingerbread house contest. Yes! I did participate and luckily I was crown to be their grand prize winner!!!! Wohhooo-  and I'm sharing that excitement with you all.  Let's go!
This is my second time, winning the Grand Prize from Crowdtap and it felt AMAZING!!- You may remembered not too long ago that I won a Grand Prize Weight Watchers cooking along with Ana and Laura. This time around its all about being creative and having fun at the same time. The Challenge was to create a Truvia inspired gingerbread house, with that being said, the theme for my gingerbread house will be "White and Green" So come on you guys! Join me as we make together my "Truvia inspired Gingerbread House!

The Making of Truvia Gingerbread House

Things you'll need:

*Gingerbread house Kit

* Colorful candies- I used just white and green on this project because of Truvia Theme:)

* Sprinkles

* Food coloring

* Icing

- In large bowl cream the butter and the cream cheese together. ( I used electric mixer on this process) Add the Truvia baking blend sugar for sweetness and consistency of the icing. At this point you can add the food coloring and set the icing aside.

Directions:

1.) Take out the Gingerbread house kit out of the box and lay it on the counter OR put it on the cake holder.

2.) Start by squeezing little icing on the roof top of the gingerbread house. Add the candy of your choice. You might need to press little bit more to avoid the candy from falling out. Repeat the whole process until everything on the top is covered.  Then, add little white candies to cover up the areas which was not covered with first layer of candy.

3.) Covered the whole house with green icing. Smooth it out using the spatula. Then you can start pipping the windows and the door of the gingerbread house.

4.) Be creative and have fun decorating the whole house. I did pipe icicles to have that great effect on the gingerbread house.

5.) Add some sprinkles, candies as you may like. Lastly put little Santa Claus on the side.

6.) I add some Truvia sugar blend all over to make it look like real snow and Whola!! Truvia Gingerbread house is ready!

I submitted my entry las week of December. Week later, I got an e-mail from Crowdtap stated that I'm their Grand Prize winner. I'm totally stoked and speechless. (I think I scream!  Oh YES! I did hehehe)  

 Last week of January, I got my Truvia Grand Prize Win delivered in my front door by FedEx. I'm extremely excited that I have to jump numerous times and then I open my prize!! The prize was packed perfect!  Come on lets take a peek what inside!

$100 Visa Gift Card- with personalized note from Crowdtap and Truvia (wohoo!) 

Wooden Spatula

1 pack of Truvia Baking Blend

1 Pack of Truvia Brown Sugar Blend

Making the gingerbread house with my kids and my friends around is amazing! I love how the idea put together into a very cute gingerbread house. The whole experience is great and I had so much FUN doing it. If ever given a chance to do it again... count me in!!I'm in-love making gingerbread house. Have I told you that this is my first gingerbread house??  O yes! So, next time you make a gingerbread house keep this inspiration in hand and just be creative. Enjoy the rest of the day and I'll see you in few days for sweet recipes and much more excitement!

xoxox- Melgie

Disclosure: I received the prize stated above by joining Truvia inspired Gingerbread house contest provided by Crowdtap and Truvia. Opinion is 100 percent mine.  Thank you so much #Crowdtap #TrufanCommunity #Sponsored

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Apple Crisp with Truvia Brown Sugar Blend

Apple Crisp Recipe with Truvia Brown Sugar Blend

Hello Everyone!
How was your week doing so far? Did you do something exciting? or maybe tried new recipe? My week  is doing pretty good and full of inspiration. I finally watched the movie "Divergent" and OEmGEE! I was totally into it. The characters in the movie are simply the best!  and guess what? I watched the movie 5 times within the period of 48 hours. Hahahha! I know its kinda annoying if you think about it buy hey! I enjoyed and loved every moment of it) wink. Aside from being obsessed with the movie Divergent, I'm also please and excited to try new product of Truvia, introducing the Truvia Brown Sugar Blend,, yippee! As you all remembered I hosted a TruFan Lemonade Stand in my neighborhood not too long ago and it was a blast! and now I get a chance to try a new Truvia Brown Sugar Blend- So grateful! @Truvia- Thank you so much.:)
I'm static to do a review on Truvia Brown Sugar, As you all know Me! I'm into trying new recipes and this is right on my alley. Couldn't ask for more! There's 7 great recipe cards included on the package and when I saw the Apple Crisp recipe, I was totally sold! It's one of my family's favorite dessert and its super easy to make. I made Apple Crisp before but I didn't add oatmeal to the toppings and now its my chance to to re-do the recipe and used Truvia Brown sugar blend. I'll promise you, this recipe is simply the best! great for company coming over, potluck party and much more.

Truvia Brown Sugar Blend Kit #YayBrown
The package was beautifully wrapped to perfection and delivered right into my front door through FedEx. It was totally a surprised and I was so trilled! So, Come on, join me as I discovered what's inside the package.. Wohoo! excitement overload! Can you tell? wink!
* 16 oz Truvia Brown Sugar Blend
* YayBrown booklet presented by Truvia Sweetener- basically talked about BROWN in general and kids are having fun reading it.
* 7 Recipe Cards- Yippee! A great addition to my recipe collections. One of my favorite  recipe Apple Crisp which featured here on my blog. Yum!
Are you excited to get this dessert take it to the next level? Come On join me in my kitchen, As, I make this super easy and delicious dessert that everyone will love. Also to experience the New Brown Sugar Blend  that has all the taste and texture of Brown Sugar, but only a quarter of the calories. Isn't is amazing?  Below is the recipe.
* Notes: Feel free to used and substitute ingredients according to your preference. Enjoy!

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:

4 cups apples, sliced

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup all-purpose four

1/4 cup butter, unsalted

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 cup Truvia Brown Sugar Blend

Nonstick Cooking spray

Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 375 degree Fahrenheit.
2.)  Spray bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray.
3.) In a medium mixing bowl, toss apple slices in lemon juice to coat, then evenly layer them in the pan
4.) In a medium bowl, mix all the remaining ingredients and sprinkle over apples.
5.) Bake for 30 minutes or until topping is golden-brown and apples are tender when pierced with fork.

 This is recipe is so good and I don't even feel the difference between a regular sugar and Truvia. Awesome! My family love the Apple Crisp, especially if you add vanilla ice cream and let it melt over the warm apple crisp... Delish! Can't even put into words how good it is. ( hahaha) A perfect way to end your delicious meal or a sweet breakfast in the morning. I actually tried having it for breakfast the other day and it was yummy. I add vanilla yogurt on top. Yum!After trying the Truvia Brown Sugar, I simply loved the product! It taste and feels like brown sugar but only a quarter of the calories. That's amazing! #YAYBROWN indeed. 

 I hope this recipe give you inspiration to make it at home and keep that aroma of fall all over your house...

I hope you find this recipe so inviting and delicious and I'll see you in few days for more awesome recipes. Enjoy the rest of the day..

xoxox- Melgie

Disclosure: I am a member of the TruFan Community rewards program and Truvia sent me a sample of its Truvia Brown Sugar Blend to review. Opinion of the product is 100 percent mine. Thank you Truvia!:) #YAYBROWN

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Truvia Lemonade Stand with Crowdtap

My First Lemonade Stand Experience with Truvia

Hello Everyone! It felt like I never blog for like forever. I just never get a chance to just sit down, collect my thoughts and write. It's been a busy and great summer for us, can't complain!:) We attended two family reunions, went to vacation at Outerbanks, NC and I hosted a Truvia lemonade stand last Friday. Yippee! It's my first time to do lemonade stand and the whole experience was AWESOME! My kids are also pretty active and been so helpful in their own little ways. It's perfect summer celebration before the school starts and great day to just have fun and play outside with other kids.
I'm so thankful  to Crowdtap and Truvia for making this experience so much fun for my family and friends. My friends are so glad knowing about Crowdtap and able to experience the sample and share product with Truvia and now I'm sharing the excitement with you! Are you ready?:)
So, What is Crowdtap?-  crowdtap is the place to use your creativity to win gift cards and score free products from big-name brands. Brands will challenge you to discuss and showcase how you use everyday items—through photos, videos, and writing—and then reward the best submissions."
Its pretty awesome site and I love being a member of crowdtap for almost 3 months.Yup!I'm a newbie but I already won gift cards with crowdtap back last June and July. Aside from great gift cards prizes every month. You can also get a chance to sample products from big-name brands for FREE, Yes! you heard it right totally free, (see my first sample and share HERE). That's how I get a chance to be handpicked to host a Truvia TruFan Lemonade Stand and I'm beyond excited to share what's inside my lemonade stand kit is. So here's what I got :)

TRUVIA Lemonade Stand Kit contains:

* (1) Package of Truvia Spoonable          * (10) Truvia Plastic Cups

* (1) Package of Truvia Baking Blend      * (1) $10 gift card

* (2) Kids-sized Sunglasses                      * (1) Lemonade Stand Insert

* (2) Adult-sized sunglasses

What is Truvia?- The best sweetness comes from nature. Truvía^® sweetener is natural, great-tasting sweetness born from the leaves of the stevia plant." It taste and brown like sugar but with less calories. The idea of Lemonade Stand is great way to explore, experience and sample the product. My friends and family love the product.  I used Truvia products on both recipe featured here on my blog.  Check out my super easy lemonade recipe below!:)

Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade with Truvia Natural Sweetener Recipe  (see the source: truvia.com)
 - Adjust the ingredients and the taste according to your preference:)

 Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups of chilled water
4 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice, about 1 large lemon
1 tbsp + 1/2 tsp natural sweetener spponable or 4 packets Truvia natural sweetener

Directions:
- Combine the ingredients and stir to dissolve.
- Served over ice.

Summer won't be complete without fresh lemons right? So,This is a perfect way to satisfy that cravings with this super easy Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade with Truvia Natural Sweetener. Adjust the taste of the lemonade to your liking and when its set. Just let it cool on the refrigerator, add some sliced lemons and ice cubes before serving.
Lemonade Stand tips:
Create a Creative Lemonade Sign- Try to be creative without spending money. It is also a great opportunity to bond with your kids and recycle scrap papers if you have some. I used left over scrap paper from last month and this is what we came up with.- Check the photo above.
Table Design for Lemonade Stand - This is a great way to used that left over table cover from your kiddies birthday and left over balloons. Have fun and let your kids be creative.

Sweet Dessert Creations- It's always nice to make something sweet addition to your lemonade. You could make brownies, cookies, sweet tart, or even cupcakes. In my case, I made a mini muffin/cupcakes with colorful icing using the Truvia spoonable. I also add sprinkles where my kids enjoyed the whole experience. Below is so far the easiest frosting you could make in less amount of time not to mention its really GOOD!:) Let me know if you try it..:)

 Cream Cheese Frosting with Truvia Recipe ( http://truvia.com/recipes/cream-cheese-frosting)

Ingredients:

16 oz cream cheese, softened- I used Philadelphia brand
1/4 + 2 tsp Truvia natural sweetener spoonable
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp milk ( optional )

Directions:
Place the cream cheese and Truvía^® natural sweetener into medium mixing bowl.
Mix on low speed for 1 minute to combine.
Add the vanilla.
Mix on low speed 1 minute until creamy and blended.
Add 1 tsp of milk, if necessary, for thinner spreading consistency.
Spread on cooled cake and cupcakes.
- I added food coloring to my cream cheese icing and sprinkles.

Grab the Lemonade jar on the refrigerator add some ice cubes and your are ready to go! I also added  flower on both end of the table to make it look so pretty! You can also used ribbons if you have some. I also printed the recipe of the Truvia Lemonade and the cream cheese frosting and place them beside the product. Now, Truvia lemonade stand is OPEN! wink:)

It was such a great experience and I LOVED it. I would definitely love to do it again when I get a chance. I'm so thankful to my family and friends for coming over and being so supportive. The experience was pretty awesome and I'm just so lucky to get a chance to host my very first lemonade stand with Truvia :)
I hope this experience will inspire you and give you some ideas on your next lemonade stand. Keep on checking my blog for great awesome recipe and I'll see you in few days.. Have a sweet day everyone!:)

xoxox- Melgie
Disclosure: I received FREE Truvia Lemonade Stand Kit courtesy from Truvia and Crowdtap. My opinion is based on my personal experience on the product and 100 percent mine. Thank you, Crowdtap and Truvia :) #TruFanStand #SweetSummer #Crowdtap #Truvia

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