This week we have a giveaway sponsored by the popular stevia company, NuNaturals. This is a multi-tiered giveaway, as they are offering something for everyone! I’ve used NuNaturals stevia personally, and do think that it is the best stevia product that I have trialed to date, so I’m happy that we have the following giveaway and discounts to offer from this company:

Four Winners will each receive one 50-count box of NuStevia Packets AND one 2-ounce bottle of NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia Liquid. To enter, see the giveaway post on www.AlisaCooks.com.

Free Samples of NuStevia Packets are available to everyone within the continental U.S. Simply send a self-addressed, stamped, #10 envelope to NuNaturals, Inc, 2220 West 2nd Ave. # 1, Eugene, OR  97402. They will send you 2 packets of NoCarbs and 2 packets of White Stevia to trial.

A Special Discount + Free Shipping is available on the NuNaturals Website to everyone within the continental U.S., from now through September 30, 2011. For 15% off your total order, use the following coupon code at checkout: BLG930. All orders shipping within the U.S. that total $35 or more after the special discount will automatically qualify for free shipping. Visit www.NuNaturals.com to use this offer.

JFC International, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA is recalling all UCC and Taitan Instant Drink Mix because they contain undeclared milk protein. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk may run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products.

The recall was initiated after JFC International Inc. discovered that the milk protein, Casein Sodium and/or Caseinate were sub-ingredients of an ingredient of the products labeled as “Non-Dairy Creamer”. The affected products listed below were distributed in packaging that did not identify the presence of the milk protein.

Alisa Fleming ~ It has been a few years since I first stumbled upon Chef Julie Morris’s website, and I only have one thing to say about her new cookbook, Superfood Cuisine … It’s about time! Julie is an amazing natural food chef, based out of Los Angeles, where she also works as a writer, educator, and professional recipe developer, advocating whole, plant-based foods and superfoods for optimal health.

Superfood Cuisine: Cooking with Nature’s Most Amazing Foods is filled with over 100 enticing recipes, utilizing a nutritious array of extraordinary ingredients. From tiny chia seeds to nut-like sacha inchi, from goldenberries to goji berries, from maca powder to cacao…some say these are the most nutrient-dense foods on earth. And with radiant celebrities like Jennifer Aniston (who credits maca for increasing energy) and Victoria Beckham (whose “beauty secret” is mulberries) on their side, who am I to argue?

Beyond SuperFood Cuisine, Julie is currently the executive chef for superfood leader Navitas Naturals, as well as the chief recipe developer for best-selling author Brendan Brazier’s new cookbook, Whole Foods To Thrive. According to Julie,“It’s not JUST about how good it tastes. It’s about how good it makes you feel” (I just love this motto!). Having tried some of her recipes in the past, I can concur that superfoods taste delicious, but don’t take my word for it, trial the following sample recipe from SuperFood Cuisine and see what you think …

Hallie Klecker ~ Aside from Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July is my favorite holiday. I wait all year long for the July issue of Martha Stewart Living to come out, eager to flip through the pages for festive table decor ideas, summery recipes, and gorgeous photographs. Independence Day seems to encapsulate the essence of summer in one fun-filled day, and I can’t help myself from joining in on the action every year.

Nothing says summer like firing up the grill. And with every good burger, steak, or marinated chicken breast goes a nutritious salad.

In the patriotic spirit of the season, I made this Star Spangled Salad over the weekend featuring some adorable beet stars that are actually super simple to make! The beets slice up perfectly when they’re raw, so there’s no steaming or roasting required. They add color, crunch, and whimsy to the salad. I just might make them all summer long.