Scrumptious Party Mix For Super Bowl!

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.  

Are you ready for some football!? I know I am! Well, maybe not so much the game as I am excited for all the food that Super Bowl brings. And the hilarious commercials too! It usually falls on me to host the Super Bowl party each year, and that means finding crowd pleasing snacks that aren't overly messy, and aren't going to take me all day to prepare. A mish mash of fun little snacks all tossed together to create a scrumptious party mix snack is what I am making this year, and I found the perfect Party Mix recipe on Golden Blossom Honey!

This is one of those snacks that you reach for, then reach for again and again. Jason had to stop me from snacking on all the mix after I made it because I wasn't going to have any left for photos at the rate I was tearing though it. It was that gooood! *Was* being the keyword. It's long gone now so I have to make another batch for Sunday.

What's in this delicious mix?

6 cups mixed Chex cereal, corn, rice, multigrain
3 cups pretzel twists
1 cup nuts, walnuts, pecans or almonds
3/4 cup brown sugar
6 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup dried fruit, cranberries, cherries or raisins

Get the full recipe Here.

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

What are you serving for Super Bowl this year?

De-stress With Homemade Lavender & Green Tea Bath Salts #LavenderOil

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Policy tab for more information.


It is very rare for me to take over the counter medicines, and last week I talked about how I have been using essential oils for natural health remedies. Not only do I use them to help keep me healthy, essential oils have multiple use benefits. One that I find myself turning to time and time again is lavender essential oil. An all-around relaxer, the scent of lavender can soothe the nervous system, acts as a mood booster, assist with insomnia, and eases headaches. Because it has great anti-bacterial properties, lavender is one of the best remedies for burns, stings, cuts and irritated skin. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that don't have to be diluted. You can apply it directly to the skin without diluting it with a carrier oil.

Since it is so versatile, I use lavender essential oil quite frequently in my homemade bath and body products, as well as cleaning products. The scent is so calming, it is one of my favorites. Having it on hand is an absolute must, and I am currently obsessed with Applejack Life Lavender Essential Oil.

Applejack Life's Lavender Essential Oil is 100% pure, therapeutic grade oil. They steam distill the oil to ensure it is produced with the highest quality. It comes packaged in an amber colored glass bottle to protect the oil from breaking down in light. When I first opened the package, the scent was very strong, so I knew the quality of the oil was amazing. Just having the bottle opened filled my kitchen with the soothing aroma of lavender! Combined with the generous 4 ounce bottle, I am not going to be running though it quickly. It does come with a free dropper, so no need to purchase a dropper to remove the product from the jar. Whether you are new to essential oils or a longtime user, lavender essential oil is one that should always be on hand. You can get Applejack Life 100% Pure Lavender Essential Oil on Amazon for $24.50.

I mostly use lavender oil for it's calming properties, and one of my favorite ways to de-stress is by soaking in a hot bath. Of course, no bath is complete without adding in some soothing essentials. I love to combine lavender oil in some salts and loose green tea for the ultimate bath soak.

Adding salts to the bath is an incredible way to draw toxins from the body. They are also great at relieving inflammation and cramping. Green tea detoxifies and soothes stressed skin,  fights inflammation, and firms and balances skin tone.

When I want to de-stress, I draw a hot bath, pour in these lavender and green tea bath salts, and let it work its magic.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Epsom salt
• 1 cup sea salt
•  8 green tea bags (I use Celestial Seasonings Organic Green Tea)
• 4-6 drops Applejack Life Lavender Essential Oil

 Directions:

In a large bowl, combine salts with the loose tea from the tea bags.
Stir in essential oil until you reach desired scent.
Pour 1/2 cup into warm bath water.
Store any unused salts in an air-tight container.

Since my dogs are allergic to some commercial air fresheners, I also keep a spritzer bottle in the bathroom with homemade lavender vanilla room spray.

To make the room spray, combine 4 drops lavender oil, 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon Epsom salt in 4 ounces of water. Store in a dark glass spray bottle. *Do not use a plastic bottle as the oil can break down plastic*.

I will sometimes spritz a little on my pillow to help me sleep better at night.

I can't say enough great things about essential oils. My husband doubted their benefits until he saw them work firsthand. Even though he gets weird looks from his buddies,  now he goes around encouraging others to give them a try too!

Applejack Life offers a 90 day, no-hassle money back guarantee. Try them. You'll like them!

Do you like the scent of lavender? Have you tried lavender essential oils before?

Winter Staycation With Pop Secret & Pillow Forts #PopSecretForts

Disclosure:  Today’s post is sponsored by Pop Secret, by my love for their popcorn is all my own!


When we are in the heart of winter, we have to get a little creative with the boredom busters. We aren't big fans of the cold, so we don't travel around much this time of year. On the weekends we pretend we are having a staycation and stay wrapped in blankets and jammies. We try to come up with fun themes to pass the time. Movie night, game night and craft night have been some recent favorites. This weekend, we decided to have a camping night! We rounded up all of the spare blankets and pillows to build a pillow fort, then grabbed some Pop Secret popcorn for delicious camp snacking.

Pop Secret has been a family favorite for many years. We love the Homestyle popcorn because it pops up light and fluffy, and with just a hint of butter and salt, it is so perfect for the mix ins we like to use to turn a delicious snack into something just a bit more decadent. This weekend we whipped up some Jackson Pollock popcorn for our camping adventures.

Our Jackson Pollock popcorn is a scrumptious mix of popcorn drizzled with caramel, and white and dark chocolate. Combined with the touch of salt and butter already on the kernels, it's a taste explosion on your tongue!

Ingredients

2 bags Pop Secret popcorn
½ cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar
¼ cup light corn syrup
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ tsp baking soda
½ cup white chocolate
½ cup dark chocolate

Directions

Pop popcorn according to package directions. Once popped, pour into a large bowl. Remove any unpopped kernels.

In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once mixture is boiling, stop stirring, but continue to boil on medium heat for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and baking soda. This will create your caramel mixture. Pour the caramel over popcorn in the bowl. Using 2 spoons, toss the popcorn to coat with the caramel mixture. Spread popcorn/caramel mixture evenly over 2 cookie sheets.

Using double broilers, or 2 glass bowls placed over simmering water, melt chocolates. Using a spoon, drizzle chocolates over the caramel popcorn mixture.

Allow 1 hour for chocolate to cool and harden on popcorn. Once cooled and set, break into small pieces and serve.


The girls had a blast getting their Jackson Pollock on, making a delicious mess all over the popcorn.

 While our popcorn was setting, we set up camp. Building a pillow fort was something I loved do to as a kid, so getting to build one with my daughters was not only great for bonding, it took me back to the days of my childhood when I would spend hours carefully constructing my own pillow fort. Using dining room chairs as our base, we draped over all of our spare blankets, filled it with pillows, and named it Camp Kernel.

Allison immediately settled in with a stash of books and some tasty Pop Secret!

Get in on the action yourself! Pop Secret is your perfect snack companion on trips into the uncharted reaches of your imagination.

Go to the Pop Secret Facebook Page to download printable Pop Secret Pillow Fort Flags and get a valuable $1 coupon for Pop Secret Popcorn!  

Pop Secret knows that fun, like popcorn, is better when it’s shared. Send Pop Secret your Pop Secret pillow fort stories and pictures on Facebook. You can upload them right to the Pop Secret timeline and tag them #PopSecretForts. They might just share a little something back!

Did you enjoy making pillow forts when you were a kid? Do your kids build their own pillow forts now too?

Homemade Trail Mix Bars

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.  

Like many people, I like to snack. I try to keep fruits and veggies within eyesight so I reach for those first, but some days I just want something sweet. Since I don't normally keep candies or prepackaged treats on hand, I usually have to make something from scratch. That means flipping through my recipe box until something strikes my fancy. Lately though, I have been turning to Golden Blossom Honey to meet most of my recipe needs. Last month I came across their Trail Mix Bars recipe and thought it would be a great one, not only to satisfy my sweet tooth, but it would be perfect to pack in my husband and daughter's lunches as well. They are now a family favorite, so we have made these bars several times since then. My youngest daughter thinks they are a real treat because she says they taste just like an oatmeal cookie.

Made with oats, dried cranberries, raisins, almonds and mini chocolate chips, they have everything I need to satisfy my sweet tooth craving, and give me a needed boost of energy in the afternoons! I'd say that's the perfect snack right there!

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°

Lightly grease a 9x15 inch pan.

Combine the first four ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add vanilla, butter, honey and brown sugar. Beat with an electric mixer. Batter will be very heavy. Using a wooden spoon stir in remaining ingredients until well combined.

Press dough into prepared pan. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Cut into bars and cool completely before removing them from pan.

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

What kind of fruits would you use to mix into your trail mix bars?

Get Healthy & Glowing Skin With OZ Naturals!

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Policy tab for more information.

One of my guilty pleasures is beauty products. I could spend all day dabbling in cosmetics, creams and lotions. Sometimes I find a brand that I love, that I just can't get enough of, and sometimes I wonder what I wasted my money on. My newest beauty obsession comes from OZ Naturals. Last week I talked about a few of their face serums I have been trying. I honestly can't get enough of them! So when OZ Naturals asked if I would like to try a few more of their products, I happily said YES! 


I was sent a bottle of OZ Naturals Retinol Serum.

Oz Naturals Retinol Serum contains clinical strength 2.5% retinol, and is the only retinol product that contains astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is proven to minimize hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, and greatly improves tone and texture. It is formulated with ingredients proven to be extremely effective in anti-aging and skin correcting, guaranteed!

The serum does come in a 1 ounce tinted glass bottle. The serum itself comes out orange in color. I was worried it was going to leave behind an orange tint on my skin, but it dried clear.

It absorbs into the skin quickly, so you aren't waiting around for it to dry for long periods so you can continue with your skin care routine. It leaves my face feeling soft, healthy and glowing! Use OZ Naturals retinol after your toner, but before moisturizing.

I feel good about using this retinol because it is:

• 72% Organic
• Does not contain alcohol, parabens, or sulfates
• Safe for all skin types
• Made in the USA
• Not tested on animals

OZ Naturals Retinol is currently available on Amazon for $24.99.

In addition to the retinol, I was sent a bottle of OZ Naturals Moisturizer.

OZ Naturals Body Moisturizer is a rich souffle of aloe vera, green tea, shea butter, and Vitamin B 5 to soften rough spots and heal dry skin. The olive and jojoba oil nourishes skin, leaving it hydrated and silky soft.

The body moisturizer has a nice consistency. Not thin, but not too thick where it takes forever to rub in and dry. It is unscented, so it is a great product to use on those days you want to wear perfume. It blends easily into the skin, leaving it feeling silky soft and hydrated. It is light weight and non greasy. Just like the other OZ Naturals, what I love about the body moisturizer:

• Organic Ingredients
• Does not contain alcohol, parabens, or sulfates
• Safe for all skin types
• Made in the USA
• Not tested on animals
• Can be used on dry skin faces

At first I was a little taken back on the price point. At $26.49 it is a little more than I pay for body moisturizer. However, after considering the size of the tube (8 ounces), and the fact that I put this moisturizer on in the morning and it seems to last most of the day, not needing a reapplication until later in the evening, it is definitely reasonably priced. Topped off that it is made with organic ingredients and no harsh chemicals, you definitely get what you pay for here! OZ Naturals Body Moisturizer is also available on Amazon.

If you would like to learn more about OZ Naturals, you can visit their website.

What are some of the benefits you look for in body and facial moisturizers?

Hot Chocolate Lovers Rejoice For Tootsie Roll Flavored Hot Cocoa! #TootsieRollHotCocoa

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Policy tab for more information.


Oh, Happy Day! I recently found out that some of my all time favorite candies are now featured in hot cocoa form and I have been jumping for joy ever since. If you have a sweet tooth like me, and a single pod brewer, you are going to jump for joy too over new Tootsie Roll Hot Cocoa K-Cups!

Available in 6 flavors:

Tootsie Roll
Junior Mints
Charleston Chew Chocolate Nougat
Charleston Chew Vanilla
Charleston Chew Strawberry
Sugar Daddy

The kids and I couldn't wait to tear into them, so when the shipment came we had a little hot cocoa tasting party. I have always made my hot cocoa with milk, so I was a little concerned the cocoas were going to taste a little watery if made in the Keurig. So, how did they taste?

Tootsie Roll- Out of all of the 6 that we tried, I only had a slight watery tasting issue with the Tootsie Roll flavored pod, but it was still pretty good. I did end up opening up the pod and dumped some of the remnants into my mug to add a boost of flavor. I don't know if you are supposed to do that or not, but will say it gave it more of the Tootsie Roll flavor I was hoping for when I did it that way.

The Sugar Babies and Junior Mint cocoas tasted exactly like their candy counterparts, with Junior Mints being my favorite. While the other pods only smelled like normal hot cocoa as they were brewing, the Junior Mints had an amazing peppermint aroma during brewing. The Sugar Babies had the signature caramel flavor you know and love them for, and when combined with a cocoa flavor, it's plain scrumptious!

The Charleston Chew flavors were all fun to drink too. You can definitely taste the difference in the strawberry, vanilla and chocolate varieties. My kids loved all 3, but the Chocolatey Nougat won out as their favorite among all the flavors that we tested that day.

Most of us grew up loving the Tootsie Roll brand of candies, so to me, it was a real treat getting to savor them in a whole new way! And getting to share them with my girls made me feel like a kid again, letting me reminisce about the good old days of dirty knees and penny candy. 

If you are a fan of these classic candies, you are going to want to try the cocoa for yourself! You can pick up a 40 count sampler Tootsie Roll Hot Cocoa Pack on Amazon now! Please note that these are NOT compatible with Keurig 2.0 machines.

WIN IT! 

One lucky Theresa's Mixed Nuts reader is going to win a 40 count sampler box of Tootsie Roll hot cocoa. You will receive samples of all 6 flavors. Giveaway is open to U.S., 18+. NO PO Boxes will be accepted. The giveaway will run through 2/2/15. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email or a new winner will be selected.

**All entries are verified. Please make sure you are following all task guidelines you claim entries for. Failure to do so will result in your entries being removed from the form. 

 

Entry-Form

Outstanding Oatmeal For National Oatmeal Month

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.  

January is National Oatmeal month, and I am taking full advantage because there is nothing that I love more on a cold winter morning than to fill my belly with a warm and nutritious breakfast. I'll be honest here- I am NOT a morning person, so I tend stick with quick and easy breakfast solutions most days. I've been known to rip open some of those instant oatmeal packets on occasion, but really, they aren't that tasty and aren't very filling. On the weekend I will put a little more effort into breakfast prep though, and that's where I totally LOVE diving into a scrumptious bowl of Outstanding Oatmeal from Golden Blossom Honey.

Packed with oats, apples, raisins and walnuts, it is definitely not lacking in flavor. The flavor beats those instant packets any day of the week! It is so filling, I don't worry about getting to lunch with a rumbling tummy! 

Ingredients

2 cups old-fashioned oats, cooked according to package directions

Apple Mixture:
1 cup apple juice
2 apples, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup raisins
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Topping:
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
1 1/2 Tablespoons GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
1 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt

Directions

Apple Mixture:
Combine above ingredients and stir into hot oatmeal. Cover and warm over low heat 5 minutes until apples are soft. Meanwhile prepare topping.

Topping:
Toss walnuts with honey until coated.

To serve:
Spoon oatmeal into 4 bowls. Top with honey-coated nuts and yogurt.

Serves 4.

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

What are your favorite oatmeal mix-ins?

DIY Peppermint Foot Scrub & Cooling Lip Balm With Majestic Pure Peppermint Essential Oil

 *Disclosure- I received the above mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Policy tab for more information.


A few years back I was extremely sick. It seemed the more I went to the doctor for help, the worse I felt. For 2 years I tried medication after medication, and by the last one I truly felt like I was knocking on death's door. I knew if something didn't change, I probably wasn't going to make it much longer. I scrapped my prescriptions and started looking for alternative methods of healing myself naturally, which led me to the many benefits of using essential oils for natural healing. *I am NOT advising anyone to go against their doctor's wishes or give up their current medications. I am merely pointing out one of the ways on how I took control of my own health. Please do your own research and make decisions on what you feel is best for you* Since I have ulcerative colitis, I was intrigued by the use of peppermint essential oils because it sounded like it offered many benefits in helping to alleviate some of my symptoms.

Peppermint Oil has many uses:

• Aids Digestion. Place a drop in your morning herbal tea.
• Improves Concentration and Alertness. Use 2 drops on the tongue and 1 under the nose.
• Helps Boost Energy Levels. Rub a few drops on the back of the neck and shoulders.
• Curbs Appetites. Just inhale the scent to trigger a sense of fullness.
• Clears Congestion. Add a few drops to a humidifier. 
• Relieve Bug Bite Itch. Use 1 drop peppermint oil and 1 drop lavender oil. Apply to bite.
• Relieves stomach aches. Rub a drop into the belly. 
• Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties.
• Treats Dandruff. Add a few drops to shampoo.
• Natural Insecticide. It repels ants, spiders, roaches, fleas and mice.
• Relieves Headaches.
• Freshens Breath.

One of my favorite Peppermint Essential Oils is from Majestic Pure Cosmeceuticals.

Majestic Pure offers premium quality peppermint essential oil that is 100% pure and natural. It is non-toxic, has no additives, no fillers, is unfiltered and undiluted. It is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

I like that is comes in a large, tinted glass bottle that comes with a dropper for easy access. I have seen other peppermint essential oils running for twice as much as what you get from Majestic Pure. You get a generously sized 4 ounce bottle on Amazon for $14.50!

Peppermint Oil is intense and more concentrated than other oils, so it may be necessary for those with sensitive skin to dilute the oil with a carrier oil like jojoba or almond oil before use.

My lips get super chapped in the winter and I love to make my own natural healing and cooling lip balm. This recipe leaves my lips soft and moisturized, and it tastes good too!

Ingredients:

4 Tablespoons Almond Oil
1 Tablespoon Beeswax
2 Teaspoons Honey (I prefer organic Golden Blossom Honey)
15-20 Drops Majestic Pure Peppermint Essential Oil

Directions:

In a small saucepan over low heat, warm oil, beeswax and honey until just melted.
Remove from heat. Add in peppermint essential oil.
Set pan in shallow ice-water bath.
Using a whisk, rapidly stir for 30 to 60 seconds until the honey is incorporated and mixture starts to turn thick (like the consistency of frosting).
Pour mixture into an airtight container. Seal closed.
Let mixture sit for 2 hours before use.


I love to use scrubs on my body, and adding essential oils is a great way to get some aromatherapy benefits too! My feet get really dry in the winter, but when I use this Peppermint Foot Scrub, it leaves them feeling soft and moisturized. Best of all, it feels so good on tired and swollen feet!

Ingredients:

1 ½ Cups Unscented Epsom Salt
½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
15- 20 Drops Majestic Pure Peppermint Essential Oil
Food Coloring (optional)

Directions:

Combine Epsom Salt and Olive Oil until just mixed.
Add in peppermint oil. Stir to combine.
If desired, add in a drop or two of food coloring. I used green to stick with the overall mint color theme, but it's totally up to you if you want to leave it natural color or select a prettier one.
Store in an airtight container.

*To avoid getting water in the bottle, scoop out what you need before getting into the shower. Rub into damp feet until all salt is dissolved.

Do you use essential oils? Which one do you use most often?

Live Young, Skate On!

Sometimes all it takes is a child's birthday party to bring out the kid in you. Since Allison's birthday falls the week before Christmas, planning a party where all of her friends could attend just wasn't in the cards this year. We ended up waiting almost a month after to throw her a birthday party, and she decided instead of doing it at home this year, she wanted to have it at the roller rink. A-OK in my book! Saves me from all the prep and cleanup. But then again, it also meant peer pressure into donning a pair of roller skates myself and joining in the party.

I really didn't want to, but my mom, who will be 60 soon, and Mariah, who has sworn she would NEVER skate again got out there,  I couldn't be the only bump on a log.

They stuck to the wall all day, but they got out there!

By the end, we skated 2 hours away, and I am proud to say, I didn't fall once :)

When is the last time you have put on a pair of roller skates?

Warm Up With Hearty Minestrone Soup!

*Disclosure- I received the above mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.  

I don't know about you, but in our area it is COLD! Due to the cold, school has been cancelled for today, and on days like these, the girls and I absolutely love to warm up with a steaming bowl of soup! After eating it for almost a week straight when I wasn't feeling well, I am a little over chicken noodle soup, so I wanted something hearty and filling, and this Hearty Minestrone Soup from Golden Blossom Honey looked like a winner today!

Packed full of the the things I love most- noodles, beans and veggies, it definitely hit the spot on this cold winter day!

Ingredients

3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
3 cups water
1 (28 ounce) can Italian plum tomatoes, chopped
1 (10 ounce) package frozen lima beans
1 (16 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
3 Tablespoons GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
salt and pepper
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni or orzo
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté garlic, celery and carrots for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in water. Cover and simmer over low heat until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, with their juices, lima beans and drained kidney beans. Bring to a boil. Stir in marjoram and honey. Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 30 minutes. Add frozen spinach, simmer covered, another 5 minutes. Mix in macaroni and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally until macaroni is cooked, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Garnish with additional Parmesan, if desired. Serves 4-6.

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

What is your favorite soup to eat on cold winter days?