General Mills – The Brand that Cares

One of my favorite brands is General Mills.  A giant in the industry, General Mills cares about consumers and the comunities is serves. Last year General Mills reformulated a whole host of breakfast cereals to provide a better product for consumers and I was impressed!

In addition to the great products they offer General Mills is supporting Pink Together by donating $1 (up to $25,000) to the Komen organization for each Message of Hope sent to someone who has shared their story on PinkTogether.com during October. This is in addition to a $2 million donation General Mills has pledged to the Komen organization. If that isn’t enough, General Mills participating products will be pink in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Encourage Pink Together Connections

This year, for the first time in its five-year history, at PinkTogether.com consumers can choose how $1 million of this donation will be shared between two important Komen programs: the Treatment and Assistance Program, which assists women in securing care they otherwise may not be able to afford, and Prevention Research, which helps unlock the keys to preventing breast cancer.

Visit PinkTogether.com from September 19, 2011 through April 14, 2012 to make your choice. Results will be announced on Mother’s Day 2012 – Sunday, May 13.

Find hope. Be inspired. Know you are not alone. Join the 2011 Pink Together™ campaign

You can help - 

1. Visit PinkTogether.com to share your personal story and messages of hope and read about others’ personal journeys.
2. Share the 2011 Pink Together Survivor Ambassadors amazing stories of courage and survival on PinkTogether.com and the Pink Together YouTube Channel.
3. Share this post via your social media accounts
4. Blog about PinkTogether, General Mills, and October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

General Mills/Pink Together Giveaway

Prize Package includes:

• A 16 oz. box of Total cereal
• VIP coupons valid for one box of Cheerios and Multigrain Cheerios cereal and one cup of Yoplait yogurt
• Betty Crocker Living with Cancer Cookbook Pink Together Edition, which includes a collection of more than 150 delicious recipes with complete nutrition information and a 32-page Pink Together Survivor Ambassador bonus section that shares inspirational personal stories of survival as well as recipes
• Water bottle and removable silicone awareness bracelet
• Drawstring sport backpack
• Rhinestone ear buds

Enter to win this prize package by answering one of the following in a comment:

• How have you been touched by breast cancer?
• Have you interacted with the community on PinkTogether.com
• What do you find most inspiring about the Pink Together community?
• Did you chose the Komen program you feel most passionate about at PinkTogether.com ?

For a second entry, Like PinkTogether.com on Facebook, and comment letting us know you did so.

For a third entry, Tweet the box below and comment with your twitter id.

One winner will be chosen on October 23rd, the date of my mother’s passing, via random.org. This giveaway is open to US residents only even though this dastardly disease knows no boundaries!

“Disclosure: The Pink Together prize pack, information and coupons have been provided free of charge by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

Kathleen

Hey, there I'm Kathleen. My friends call me Kathy; to my kids I'm Momia. Life has afforded me many hats: Mom, wife, sister, friend, business owner... and most recently a midlife blogger. From college to marriage and babies, in the midst of business and wealthy boomers, midlife retrospection validates this extraordinary journey called life.

Website - Twitter - More Posts

You might also enjoy:

1. Hello My Name Is – Breast Cancer Awareness
2. Wordless Wednesday | Breast Cancer Awareness Infographic
3. Whole Grain Awareness Challenge – GM Cereal Giveaway

What is White Whole Wheat Flour?

The whole grains council defines white wheat as a whole-flour, including the bran, germ, and endosperm, made from white wheat. Think of it is as albino wheat if you will, that packs the same whole grain healthy punch as regular whole wheat minus the red color genes.

Gold Medal asserts their white whole-wheat flour is a 100% whole-grain. They mill the flour from the very beginning preserving the vitamins and minerals, complex carbohydrates, and phytonutrients (nutrients naturally found in plants) found in whole grain wheat. These components work together to help support a healthy lifestyle.

Whole Wheat Facts

White wheat is milder in flavor than regular whole wheat.

Experts consider white and regular whole wheat to be the same nutritionally.

Products made with white wheat require less added sweetener to attain the same level of perceived sweetness.

Baking With White Whole Wheat Flour

In my experience, baking with white whole wheat is no different from using AP white flour once perfected. Originally, I substituted the two flours equally and found that an increase in liquid was necessary. Adding a tablespoon or two of the required liquid was sufficient. A reduction in flour by 1 – 2 tablespoons could also remedy the need for added liquid, according to flour manufacturers.

Gold Medal recommends beginning by substituting 25% to 50% of the white flour with white whole-wheat flour. If you are concerned about the conversion of a specific recipe, it may be more practical to follow the Gold medal recommendation.

I found that bread and sweet muffin recipes prepared without the liquid addition resulted in a lower rise and denser texture. It is true baking with white whole wheat flour requires less sugar. The reduction of sugar resulted in a lighter crust and softer texture and yet another step toward a healthier lifestyle.  The reduction of sugars along with a tablespoon or two of added liquid produced a wonderful home baked product.

Gold Medal White Whole Wheat Baking Prize Package

Thanks to myblogspark and Gold Medal not only did I receive this beautiful blue Retro Ceramic Cookie Jar but also a coupon for 5 lbs. of Gold Medal White Whole Wheat Flour and a set of White Wheat Baking Recipe Cards to sample and review.

If you would like to own this Gold Medal Prize Package, tell my why you would like to try Gold Medal White Whole Wheat Flour and Re-Tweet this post using the box below. (requires allowing a pop up box)

One winner will be chosen on Friday, September 23, to kick off the first day of autumn. Good Luck and Let the baking begin!

Related articles

• Whole Wheat Herb Veggie Pizza’s and Some Health Benefits (blogsgotheart.blogspot.com)
• Substituting Whole Wheat for White Flour in Recipes (thehappyhousewife.com)

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Kathleen

Hey, there I'm Kathleen. My friends call me Kathy; to my kids I'm Momia. Life has afforded me many hats: Mom, wife, sister, friend, business owner... and most recently a midlife blogger. From college to marriage and babies, in the midst of business and wealthy boomers, midlife retrospection validates this extraordinary journey called life.

Website - Twitter - More Posts

You might also enjoy:

1. Baking Tips – Conquering My Baking FAIL!
2. Easy Bran Coffee Cake and a Mississppi Mud Secret
3. Baker’s Challenge Gluten Free Recipe Contest

Therefore, if your personal choice includes eco friendly products, Green n Brown is a shopping site for you. Every product comes with its own short note about its eco footprint and/or the eco impact the shopper is making. Moreover, if you want to learn how to reduce your eco footprint while shopping simply click their website banner. Green n Brown also supports world hunger relief and claims to make a donation to fight hunger with every sale. With such a prominent banner, I am compelled to also mention that I did not locate information on the specifics of their donation campaign, sorry.

A wide selection of products and categories are offered, including apparel for the entire family, home décor, health and beauty products, gifts, and even organic food is found on the site. I thought the apparel for women was most impressive. It is amazing to me how bamboo can be woven into a fabric. All of the apparel, where it for is men, women, or juniors is produced from organic natural materials like cotton, bamboo, or hemp.

“Because they're composed of natural materials, many organic fabrics, like bamboo and hemp, are naturally mold, mildew, and UV resistant.”

This Mini Trench Coat for women is just fabulous, don’t you agree? The “hemp denim” is what sparked my interest. Not surprising for one who grew up in the 1970s, now a midlife woman, right? The product description truly does reveal the vision of Green n Brown,

“Hemp denim rocks this mini trench in a glamorous take on the classic trench. Jonano put an eco twist on this classic by using a hemp organic cotton dark wash structured denim with rugged “branch of peace” military button detailing, inset side pockets and a self sash belt. Wear this as a mini dress or with the matching cigarette pant which features a side zip and split hem to flash your heels. What better way to show your love for the Earth during the cold and rainy seasons?

Created to honor Mother Earth. Machine Washable Certified Organic Cotton and Organic Hemp, Imported. Size S – XL.”

In addition to the apparel, Green n Brown offers organic foods. How could I possibly pass up a review of their food department! I have to warn you, organic foods carry a rather hefty price tag. Green n Brown offers price incentives to help offset the costs. First, there is flat shipping rate of $2.99 however spend $100 and receive free shipping. Secondly, purchasing two food products nets a $5.00 discount and continues in five-dollar increments up to four products for a total savings of $15.00. Products include snacks, breakfast items, baking ingredients, pasta and rice, as well as prepared meals, however the largest product assortment was in beverages department.

The baking isle include all natural cornstarch, cocoa, carob chips, baking soda and powder from Ah!Laska, Bob’s Red Mill, Enjoy Life Foods, and Equal Exchange brands. Not a huge inventory for organic bakers however the beverage section covers everything from organic coffee and natural tea to juices, soda, and water!

Being a coffee enthusiast, I truly wanted to review organic coffee. Maybe find a new flavor or interesting fact about coffee… Oh what a revelation! The prices on many of the coffees were not much more than a grocery store. However, the facts supporting the purchase and consumption of organic coffee were overwhelmingly favorable.

Organic Coffee Facts

“Organic farming can yield up to three times as much food as conventional farming on the same amount of land, according to researchers from the University of Michigan.”

“Coffee is the third most common import in the U.S., behind oil and steel, respectively. The U.S. consumes about 1/3 of the world’s coffee.”

“A recent study of 600 people found that those exposed to pesticides had a 1.6 times greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than those who were not.”

In fact, I’m inclined to make the switch to organic coffee. Hubby would definitely grumble about the whole organic thing I’m sure, however, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right?

The selection of green tea is reasonably extensive as well. While I may not totally support the “Green Revolution,” I am a big fan of green tea and support the positive medical claims surrounding the product.

According to Green n Brown, “The International Journal of Cancer, reported that women who drink at least one cup of green tea a day for a period of six months cut the risk of bile stones by 27 percent. They also lowered the risk of gallbladder cancer by 44 percent, and the risk of bile duct cancer by 35 percent.”

Though I reviewed just a few of the many organic products Green n Brown offers, I learned much about the natural, organic, and eco friendly concept. Admittedly, I’m still not a supporter of carbon footprint theory. Nevertheless, I really am going to increase our organic food consumption, beginning with my favorite beverage, coffee. After all, consuming fewer pesticides, chemicals, and processed foods will never produce BAD results. In addition, according to Green n Brown, the economic value is huge for North America.

To my eco friendly readers, please do check out Green n Brown, the CEO has done an exceptional job of supporting the Green Revolution company mission.

Related articles

• Calcium the Miracle Mineral | Grandma was right (asiteforwomen.com)
• Mango Coconut Smoothie and Foods That Hydrate You (blogsgotheart.blogspot.com)

Kathleen

Hey, there I'm Kathleen. My friends call me Kathy; to my kids I'm Momia. Life has afforded me many hats: Mom, wife, sister, friend, business owner... and most recently a midlife blogger. From college to marriage and babies, in the midst of business and wealthy boomers, midlife retrospection validates this extraordinary journey called life.

Website - Twitter - More Posts

You might also enjoy:

1. Green Tea – The Cheapest Dietary Supplement You Can Buy
2. A Midlife Green Tea Binge
3. After-School Fuel: Power Up With Organic Snacks