Review: The Tea Spot

If tea could be elevated to an art form, The Tea Spot's teas would be in a museum.  I was sent a sample of loose leaf teas for this review and I honestly can say it was hard to even brew them.

Upon opening the box I knew this tea would be different.  With names like Coconut Crush Chai, Boulder Blues, Mango Tango, and Strawberry Fields the creativity of the teas stretches further than one would imagine.

The Tea Spot's premium loose leaf tea blends are microblended in small batches in Boulder, Colorado.

The company began in 2004, headed by a cancer survivor drawn to the health benefits of whole leaf teas.  In fact, the Tea Spot donates 10% of sales to cancer and community wellness programs.

These teas combine the simplicity of basic whole leaf tea and complexity of whole dried fruit and dried flowers.

The first tea I brewed was the Strawberry Fields, an herbal tea.  This isn't supermarket tea.  I opened the satchel and was hit in the face with the most amazing strawberry scent.

Now normally when I open a box of tea it might smell amazing, but the taste is kind of weak.  Not Tea Spot Tea.  This tea IS strawberry tea.  It was heaven in a mug for this fruit tea loving girl.

My 8 year old loved it too and he is picky as anything.

The tea was amazing both hot and iced and is caffeine free.

Next was the Mango Tango.  This is a black tea (which does have caffeine) blended with Mallow Flowers, Marigolds, and Mango and Passion fruit flavor.  You can taste the high quality black tea mixed in with the unusual yet complimentary tastes of the fruit.  I really liked this one hot, but it was AMAZING ICED.

Boulder Blues was a tea that was different from anything I have EVER tried before.  A green tea (Caffeinated again) mixed with Mallow Flowers, Cornflowers, Strawberry and Rhubarb flavoring, it was earthy and fruity at the same time.

Honestly I can't really describe it well - it is something that you have to taste.  My green tea loving husband wasn't a huge fan, but I really enjoyed it.  It is certainly a different spin on typical flavored green tea.  Right away I was able to taste the strawberry with a hint of rhubarb.  Again this one was great both hot and iced.

Last but certainly not least, the Coconut Crush Chai.  I could sing the praises of this tea forever.  I am a Chai loving girl to the max and I have probably tried every single Chai tea on the market.  This was, hands down, my most favorite chai EVER.

Rooibos tea blended with Ginger root, cinnamon, and shredded coconut and brewed at 212 degrees make this tea perfect.  I loved it hot mixed with some honey and milk, but honestly you could probably do anything with this chai and it would be perfect.

Best of all The Tea Spot sent me a recipe card to make Coconut Crush Chai Overnight Oatmeal!  I can't wait to give this one a try:

Coconut Crush Chai Overnight Oatmeal

1/2 C. Steeped Coconut Crush Chai, strained
1/2 C. Rolled Oats
1/2 Yogurt

Mix all the ingredients in a 16oz mason jar and store in the fridge overnight (or at least 8 hours).  In the morning top with coconut shavings, bananas, and granola and enjoy!

Trust me, you will enjoy it.

You can find The Tea Spot on Facebook and on their website to order and to see all their awesome teas and recipes too!

http://theteaspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theteaspot/

https://twitter.com/teaspot

https://www.pinterest.com/theteaspot/

Review: Stout Spice Co. Matcha

What is Matcha?  Why is it so green?  Does it taste like grass?

There are many questions that come up when people take the leap into drinking Matcha tea.  For me it was a leap of faith.  I was big on loose leaf teas, but after hearing about the health benefits of Matcha, I decided to give it a try.  I started with a basic plain Matcha and went on from there.

Matcha is a ground Japanese tea made from green tea leaves. Unlike regular green tea, the ground tea itself is consumed, rather than infused and strained. The tea is full of antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes, and chlorophyll.  Matcha isn't caffeine free, but is has less caffeine than coffee, clocking in around 70-80mg per 8oz serving.  The benefit of Matcha over coffee is the sustained energy release and the lack of a crash after drinking.

For some folks it is love at first taste, but for others there can be a period of getting used to Matcha's distinctive taste. Depending on the brand and the process of making the tea, some teas can be strong and taste "earthy" while others have a lighter flavor.  You can make lattes from Matcha, which do ease up on the heavy flavor of a stronger tea.

If you are just starting out, a sweet Matcha might be just what you need to enter the world of this healthful tea.

Enter Stout Spice Company!

Stout Spice Co. has been around since 2014 and specializes in Spices, Spice Blends, and Teas.  They bring their raw products in during the natural harvest cycle to ensure the quality of each spice and tea.

They have many flavors/types of Matcha ranging from Culinary Matcha (which works well in smoothies) to the sweeter Matchas like Pumpkin Spice and Cinnamon.

For this review Stout Spice Co. sent me a sample size of their Pumpkin Spice Matcha.  

The tea comes packaged in really cool little containers and are labeled with the ingredients on the bottom.  The Matcha I was sent was Pumpkin Spice and the ingredients are Organic Cane Sugar, Premium Matcha Green Tea, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Ginger, Organic Nutmeg, and Organic All-Spice.  Nothing fake in there!

Directions call for 1/2 tsp per 2oz water and that the water should be less than boiling.  I was able to get about 3 - 8oz servings out of the sample, though I like to mix my Matcha a bit lighter.

Stout's Matcha is smooth and dissolves pretty well, leaving only a small grainy texture behind.  Some Matcha's I have had are very grainy, but this one was pretty good.   You can tell this is a sweetened Matcha but it isn't overpowering sweet - just sweet enough that you don't have that initial ZING of the green tea taste.

This Matcha isn't very strong, and I didn't get as much of an energy pick up than I have in the past with other brands, but the taste and texture certainly made up for it.

The Pumpkin Spice flavor would lend really well to a nice fall Latte with the addition of steamed milk.

How do you like your Matcha?  Click over to Stout Spice Company's website and see all they have to offer!

Stout Spice has been generous enough to offer a coupon code for any of their loose teas (including their Matchas!)

 To get 15% off any Stout Loose Leaf Teas, use the code RCHReview15 on check out - there's no expiration date on this discount!

https://www.stoutspiceco.com/
https://www.facebook.com/StoutSpiceCo/
https://twitter.com/StoutSpice
https://www.instagram.com/stoutspice/
https://www.pinterest.com/stoutspice/

Review: NeoCell's Biotin Bursts and Serum

Want to find a supplement that not only tastes great but will help your skin and hair?   If so, then NeoCell may be just what you've been looking for! 

NeoCell was started in 1998 after the personal experience of its leader, who following a heart attack and surgery, used collagen as part of his recovery.  After seeing its positive affects, he started the company.

NeoCell is a family owned business that produces health and wellness products.  In addition to collagen, they have an extensive product line geared toward natural solutions for health and beauty as well as joint health and sports recovery.

For this review I was sent a 30-day supply of Biotin Bursts Chews.  These Acai Berry flavored chews are not only really tasty, but they really work.  After about 2 weeks of taking the chews, I noticed a clearer complexion with less breakouts and I also noted a reduction in my hair shedding, which has been an issue since my 3rd son was born.

The secret to Biotin Bursts, is well, biotin. Each chew has 10,000 mcg of biotin in them.  Biotin is a B-Vitamin which is known to help with skin and hair as well as protein metabolism which helps with energy.  It might have been a coincidence, but I felt pretty good while I was taking them.

The chews have an amazing Acai berry flavor and a great texture.  They weren't chalky like some supplement chews and their ingredient list was great too!  Biotin Bursts are free of gluten, soy, palm oil, lactose, and have nothing artificial in them.

Along with the Biotin Bursts I was also sent a sample of NeoCell's Collagen Radiance Serum.  Described as "time released with Vitamin C & E complex," this product states that it is a:

• Potent Antioxidant
• Protects and Rejuvenates
• Vitamin C & Vitamin E
• Paraben Free

The label also says that it will enhance the skin's firmness, elasticity, and moisture.  To be truthful, I didn't really notice a huge difference in my skin while using the serum over the past month.  It is a good moisturizer, and I felt like my skin was brighter after using it, it didn't seem to live up to the label - at least for me.  Currently it is unavailable on the website, although it is available for purchase via Amazon.

Want to try Biotin Bursts for yourself? I recommend you do!  For more information on NeoCell's product line, check out their website and Facebook page which had downloadable coupons.  Also you can buy their products on iHerb and if you are new customer there, use code IHB500 which gives you $5 off a purchase under $40 or $10 for a purchase over $40.

http://www.neocell.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/NeoCellCollagen 

https://twitter.com/NeoCellHealth

Review & Giveaway: Fliperdoos!

Got a toddler or preschooler learning how to put on their shoes?  Tired of getting outside and realizing they have their shoes on the wrong foot?  You have to get yourself some Fliperdoos!

Fliperdoos! are super thin shoe inserts that give your child a picture to help them tell the difference between the right and left shoe.  Fliperdoos! come in two different sizes, small which fits shoes sized 5-9 and large that fits shoes size 9-13.  The dual sizing and cut to fit lines make it a breeze to correctly size the insole for toddler to preschool sized shoes.

For the review I was sent a size small fire truck set and a size large robot set.  Fliperdoos! also come in pink mermaids and unicorn styles too, if your little one is more fond of those styles.

Right out of the package I noticed how thin and flexible the inserts were.  The back of the inserts have a non-slip feel to them, which is to keep them from moving around a bunching while being worn.

The inserts are easy to cut and size using scissors.  I was able to cut the large sized insert down to a size 11 for my 5 year old.

The inserts go in the shoe with only a little bit of effort, mostly because of how thin they are.  The inserts bunched a bit going into my son's Plae sandals, but after some adjusting (had to stick my hand in them) the inserts were flat.

My son loved the pictures on the inserts and it quickly became a game of "how fast can I correctly put my shoe on!" Since we started using the Fliperdoos!, he has had a 99% accuracy rate for getting his shoes on the right foot.  When he doesn't, he notices quickly that the robot "isn't right!"

Fliperdoos! are certainly something that I think every parent should have.  Using them has made our rush to get out of the house easier and helped my son be more independent when getting himself ready.


Want a chance to WIN a set of Fliperdoos for your child?  Read on to see how you can enter our Giveaway for a set of your own!

Can't wait to see if you won?  Use code REVIEWS on the Fliperdoos! website and get free shipping on your order.

https://www.facebook.com/Fliperdoos 

https://squareup.com/market/fliperdoos-llc  https://www.pinterest.com/fliperdoos/

Fliperdoos! is generously giving away a set of Fliperdoos! insoles in the winner's choice of print with a retail value of $9.95!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Rafflecopter, then leave the name you commented under and your email in the box in the Rafflecopter entry. (This allows us to contact you if you win!)  This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning.

This giveaway is open to US RESIDENTS ONLY
and will end just before midnight ET on 8-10-15. 

The winners will be notified by email within 24 hours after the end of the giveaway.  In order to claim the giveaway prize, the winner will need to respond within 24 hours of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Once the winner(s) have responded and confirm, their first name will be posted on our Giveaways page. 

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Review & Giveaway: Simple Squares

Looking for a nutrition bar that is organic, raw, Paleo friendly, and free of gluten, dairy, corn, and soy that tastes good?  Look no further than Simple Squares!  GMO-free Simple Squares are  5 ingredient nutrition bars that taste anything but simple.

These chewy squares come in a variety of flavors like Chili Pep,  Cho-Coco, Cinna-Clove, Coconut, Coffee, Ginger, Rosemary, and Sage.  The company, headquarteres in Chicago, IL was started from a quest to find snacks that were healthy and made with unprocessed ingredients.  With easy to read labels, these snacks are great for folks who need to avoid certain ingredients.

I was sent a sample pack of 4 bars in 4 different flavors.  The bars are 1.6oz and the labels clearly state what is inside.

The first bar I tried was Cho-Coco which is a chocolate coconut flavor. Opening the wrapper you can really see the difference between these snack bars and others.  They have a nutty appearance and a fragile texture (from being raw) that makes them fall apart easily.  A main ingredient in all the bars I sampled is organic honey, which has a strong flavor.

The Cho-Coco while really delicious, was lacking a chocolate taste.  I mostly tasted the coconut and honey, which seemed to overpower the other flavors.  Regardless, it was delicious, and my kids loved it, too.


I moved onto the Coconut flavor next, and everyone liked it, but it tasted very similar to the Cho-coco I had previously tried, but with a stronger coconut flavor.  The Coconut bar also had a stickier texture than the others I had sampled.


Cinna-Clove was the family favorite.  My kids and I loved it because the cinnamon flavor was stronger than the honey and combined with the cloves gave it a mildly sweet, warm flavor.

This flavor also was less sticky and that was a hit with my son that hates having sticky hands.


The final flavor was the most intimating to me and my family.  Chili Pep is a blend of nuts and honey (like the other flavors) with added organic chili pepper to give it a kick.

My family flat out refused to try this one which left me to be adventurous.  Opening the package, this bar resembled the others, with just a slightly darker color to it.  This flavor had a stickier texture like the Coconut and smelled similar to the other flavors too.

When taking my first bite, it was hard to tell this flavor from the others, but after chewing a bit I could taste an essence of chili pepper.  Despite the name and pretty red packaging, it isn't really spicy-spicy, but it does have a kick to it aftertaste-wise.  While I am personally not a chili pepper mixed with sweetness fan, I think Simple Squares did a wonderful job of combining the flavors so they are subtle but mix together amazingly.


If you are looking for a snack that is organic, raw, paleo friendly, and with ingredients you can pronounce, Simple Squares are for you.  Check them out on Facebook and on their website today!

Want to enter an awesome giveaway?  Simple Squares is offering 2 of our readers in the USA or Canada a chance to win a Variety Pack of Simple Squares, retail value of $29.99 each!  Look below for details about how to enter!

https://www.facebook.com/simplesquares

http://simplesquares.com/

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Rafflecopter, then leave the name you commented under and your email in the box in the Rafflecopter entry. (This allows us to contact you if you win!)  This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning.

This giveaway is open to US and CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
and will end just before midnight ET on 8-4-15. 

The winners will be notified by email within 24 hours after the end of the giveaway.  In order to claim the giveaway prize, the winner will need to respond within 24 hours of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Once the winner(s) have responded and confirm, their first name will be posted on our Giveaways page. 

Good luck everyone!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Review/Giveaway: Nuun Hydration

You might think that there is nothing more boring than water, and you are not alone.  For many of us, drinking water is a chore and something that we only do if we have to.  Most folks replace water with drinks like soda, tea, and other sugary artificial color laden sports drinks.  Not a really good choice for anyone, especially when you are working out.  Enter Nuun Hydration.  Nuun is a portable hydration tablet that gives water a little make-over.

Nuun has different hydration products to fit different needs:

Nuun Active Hydration is the electrolyte enhanced tablet that is great for keeping you hydrated while working out.  It comes in flavors like Orange, Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Kona Cola, Lemon Tea, Tri-Berry, Grape, Tropical, Citrus Fruit, Watermelon (seasonal), and Lemonade.  This version of Nuun does contain acesulfame potassium, which is an artificial sweetener.  Just something to keep in mind when choosing a Nuun product - other varieties use stevia as a sweetener instead.

Plus for Nuun is a non-flavored tablet that contains carbs and electrolytes for rapid refueling during intense workouts.


U Natural Hydration is the natural line of electrolyte and vitamin enhanced drink tablets.  It comes in 4 flavors - Cucumber Mint, Goji Berry Green Tea, Tangerine Ginger, and Lemon Chai.  Great for less intensive activities and for folks looking for a natural calorie free sweetener - stevia.

Nuun All Day is a great vitamin enhanced drink tablet to keep you drinking the water you need, all day everyday.  It comes in flavors like Grapefruit Orange, Tangerine Lime, Blueberry Pomegranate, and Grape Raspberry.

Nuun Energy not only contains electrolytes and has no added sweetener, but also contains caffeine and B vitamins to provide an energy boost.  Its flavor choices are Cherry Limeade, Lemon-Lime, and Wild Berry.

For this review I was sent 4 flavors of Nuun Active Hydration, which is the #1 selling sports drink tablet among runners, cyclists, and other outdoor sports folks.  With Nuun Active Hydration, Nuun took the traditional sports drink and separated the electrolytes from the carbohydrates, leaving a product that keeps you hydrated, but lets you choose how to replace your carbs after working out.

My package contained 4 tubes of Nuun tablets: Watermelon, Fruit Punch, Lemonade, and Strawberry Lemonade.  Each tube contains 12 tablet and each tablet flavors 16oz of water.

The tablets are super simple to use.  Just open a 16 oz bottle of water, drop in the tablet, and wait 2 minutes for the tablet to dissolve.  The tablets are fizzy (sort of like Alka-Seltzer!) and do have a carbonated taste at first, but if you let it sit with the cap off for a few minutes, that taste (and fizz!) disperses.

All the flavors tasted pretty true to what they are supposed to be.  I had a hard time at first telling the difference between the Fruit Punch and the Watermelon, but after a couple of minutes I was able to detect the Watermelon flavor.

All the flavors are light, not sickly sweet, and the fact that they are free of artificial coloring was a huge plus too.

I used Nuun as recovery drink after my long runs and found it to be light and easier on the stomach than other sports drinks.  I had fewer headaches and muscle cramps too.  It makes a great pre-workout and during work out drink as well.

Nuun is extremely portable, the containers are small enough to drop into a purse, gym bag, or diaper bag. Great for traveling to all those sporting events and races.  You can't really go wrong with Nuun, it is a great sports drink and recovery product.  Flavors are good, it is free of sugar and artificial colors and flavors.

On the flip-side, they are a bit pricier when compared to other sports drinks, but I feel like the benefits outweigh the cost.  Also if you are wanting to avoid artificial sweeteners, than Nuun Active Hydration might not be for you since it does contains acesulfame potassium.

To purchase Nuun Hydration tablets, you can purchase directly from their website or check out their store locator for local options.

Nuun Website
Nuun on Facebook

Want to try some Nuun? Nuun is allowing us to host a giveaway of these really cool hydration tablets!

The winner of this giveaway will receive 2 tubes of Nuun in variety and flavors of their choice. This giveaway is open to readers in the USA only. The retail value is approx. $12 + shipping.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Rafflecopter, then leave the name you commented under and your email in the box in the Rafflecopter entry. (This allows us to contact you if you win!)  This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning.

This giveaway is open to US RESIDENTS ONLY
and will end just before midnight ET on 5-11-15. 

The winner will be notified by email within 24 hours after the end of the giveaway.  In order to claim the giveaway prize, the winner will need to respond within 24 hours of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Good luck everyone!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Review/Giveaway: Are You Kidding? Kid-Designed Kids Socks

Walking through the sock aisle at Target is kind of boring.  Rows and rows of black and white socks is what has always greeted me.  Socks are a big deal in my family.  My older son is very particular about what socks he wears and my middle son has Cerebral Palsy that requires him to wear braces on his feet, which make sock buying and wearing difficult.  Generally when I do find socks that work with his braces they are boring, plain, and just not so much fun.

That isn't the case anymore!  Are You Kidding? is a kid designed company that was started by a creative 6-year old boy who loved socks!  His designs are fun and colorful, which is lacking in most kids' socks you can find in the store.

The socks are sold in sets of 3 pairs and retail for $15 a set. They have themes such as Boy's Comics, Girl's Comics, and Surf and Turf.

As I opened the package the socks came in, I could already tell these were going to be fun.  Wrapped in bright yellow tissue paper and sealed with a sticker logo, the package made my kids really excited to see the socks they would be trying out.

I was sent 2 sets of socks in two different sizes to try.  Boy's Comics in size Large and Boy's Eye See You in Medium.  From the get go I could tell these socks were going to be different, the fun colors and designs aside. The quality is amazing and the small and medium sized socks have a non-slip texture on the bottom to prevent slips for the little kids.

The socks are made from 87% cotton, 8% nylon, and 5% spandex for the perfect amount of stretch, strength, and softness.


After a run through the washer and dryer (I noted no shrinkage) it was time for my boys to try them out.

My older son went for the grey and orange faces pair first.  He said they were comfortable after wearing them all day at school.

This is huge because he is extremely picky about socks.  He doesn't like seams, bunches, or tight bands.

These got a thumbs up!

My middle son's first choice was blue and green lightning bolts in size medium.  The day he wore them was a day we had Physical Therapy so I was wondering how they would work with his SMO and AFO.  I was pleasantly surprised that there was no need for me to size up even with his braces!

The socks come up high enough naturally that they work great and protect his legs from the plastic.

The blend also allows for breathability under his braces as well.  We couldn't have been happier.  It made me really happy to see him so thrilled about wearing these socks with his braces.  Until now he was stuck with plain socks since nothing came high enough to cover his legs without being to big on his foot.  These socks fit perfectly.

As a mom of many boys, durability is a big deal for me.  I swear my family eats socks with all the different pairs we go through with holes and wear and tear.

I wondered how I would be able to speak for the durability of these socks during my review period, but luckily for me my 4 year old got himself into a situation that demonstrated not only how cool looking these socks are, but also how durable they are.

While out playing in the snow with his brother, my son lost his boot in a snow bank and walked home on concrete sidewalks dragging his feet the whole time wearing his rainbow eyes pair of socks.  I figured I would have a bunch of holes in that sock by the time we got home.  Nope, they were fine!  They got the mom thumbs up too.

You can't go wrong with these socks.  They are a combo of colorful creative prints which kids will love and the durability and quality that parents will love too!

Are You Kidding? Website

Are You Kidding? on Facebook

Are You Kidding? on Twitter 

Are You Kidding? on Pinterest

Are You Kidding? is generously giving away one pack of 3 pairs of socks of the winners choice to 2 readers, a retail value of $15.00 per pack.  US residents only please.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Rafflecopter, then leave the name you commented under and your email in the box in the Rafflecopter entry. (This allows us to contact you if you win!)  This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning.

This giveaway is open to US RESIDENTS ONLY
and will end just before midnight ET on 4-10-15. 

The winner will be notified by email within 24 hours after the end of the giveaway.  In order to claim the giveaway prize, the winner will need to respond within 24 hours of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

Nutella is tasty and a really nice treat, but we all know that it probably isn't the healthiest thing for us! I love Nutella and don't buy it, because if it is in my house I will eat it.

After some experimentation and looking at different homemade recipes online I came up with one for a "Chocolate" Hazelnut Spread on my own.  The ingredients are simple and it isn't time consuming to make.

"Chocolate" Hazelnut Spread

You will need:
2/3 cup Hazelnuts
3 oz Carob Chips (or you can use Cocoa Powder, instead)
Raw Honey (to taste)
Splash of milk (whatever type you fancy)
1 tsp of coconut oil

Now hazelnuts have a skin so you need to roast them A) to make it easy to remove the skin and B) to make them more flavorful.

You can roast them too much, so make sure you watch them. I did about 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

The hardest part of making this was taking the skin off.  I did it with my fingers, but I did read you can skin them with a towel as well.

Once their skin was removed I put them into my crappy food processor.

NOTE: this was my downfall.  If you have a good food processor you will get a smoother hazelnut spread.  My processor is cheap and I didn't get a fine powder (which is what you really want if you want it smooth).

Once the Hazelnuts were ground as much as I could get them I added in about 3 oz of Carob chips.

Now many of the recipes for chocolate hazelnut spread on the internet say to use Cocoa Powder, but I didn't have any on hand...just carob chips and my 5 year old gets crazy when I give him chocolate so this was a better thing for us.

I blended the carob chips and the Hazelnuts together and then added a splash of whole milk and a teaspoon of coconut oil to give it a creamier spreadable texture.

Finally once it was completely blended I added in some raw honey. 

NOTE: Honey has a very distinct flavor that might be too much for some people.  If you are someone who doesn't like honey, raw cane sugar or regular sugar would be just fine.

After it was all blended I ended up with this: 

The truth is that it tastes really good, chocolatey and hazel-nutty, but it isn't Nutella.  If you want something that tastes EXACTLY like Nutella you are better off going to buy some at the store.

Mine had a texture like a crunchy peanut butter because I couldn't get the Hazelnuts ground fine enough, but I imagine that if you had a good processor it will be smoother.  There are many variations of this recipe on the internet that seem pretty easy.  I think next time I will use dark chocolate to see how it tastes.  My kids loved this as a dip for graham crackers and on toast.