Welcome to a new week of Robin Recommends! With Thanksgiving just behind us and the holidays coming up in just a few quick weeks, I’m back to share another roundup of favorite recipes, snacks, local spots, gift ideas, and more. Read on for more of my favorites! Note that most of these items are also shoppable on my Amazon storefront.

1. Vitamix

I LOVE my Vitamix! Yes, it is an investment, but I use it almost daily. It’s great for smoothies, soup recipes, milks, and more. I’ve been making my own milk for coffee lately by combining 1 cup oat milk, 1 date, a drop of vanilla, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. You can also use the Vitamix to make your own nut milk from scratch. Generally, a ratio of 1 cup of soaked nuts to 4 cups filtered water is a good rule of thumb for homemade milks. You can strain out the nut solids after blending or keep them in if you like, and once strained, re-blend with flavorings of your choice like cacao powder for chocolate milk, vanilla, dates for sweetness, etc. I have the 6300 model and you can generally find pretty good sales throughout the year, especially this time of year!

2. Smashmallow Marshmallows

It’s hot chocolate season, AND we’ve been making more s’mores by the fire in the backyard than EVER! That’s why I wanted to make sure I had the best possible option for this sweet. This brand has better ingredients than most others. Many have added corn syrup and even carrageenan. Corn syrup is a refined sugar containing purely glucose. Carrageenan is known to trigger inflammation, ulcers, and other forms of digestive system damage. It’s also known to be carcinogenic-definitely not something you want in your marshmallows. Smashmallows are still a high sugar treat to be enjoyed in moderation, BUT they are made from natural, non-GMO ingredients.

3. Stylish Spoon Bakery
Stylish Spoon is a gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free bakery, whose owner is now based in Westport! I reached out to Ilana Eck after discovering that my clients have been loving her products for years. My kids and I tried the chocolate and chia oatmeal cups, gingerbread man cookies, and chocolate chip cookies. All were kid- and mom-approved in my house! These products are made with such great ingredients, including organic coconut oil, bananas, cinnamon, wild blueberries, chia seeds, and gluten-free oats. You can order them for delivery and store them in the freezer too. Stock up for this busy holiday season. The kids and I have been enjoying them for snacks and breakfast on the go. Perfect for anyone who doesn’t have the time to make their own oatmeal and cookies! They are all #robinbarrieapproved !

4. Cascadian Farm Organic Purely O’s Cereal
I love this cereal as a healthy swap for traditional or alternative Cheerios. They are organic, made with whole grain oats and barley, have 26 grams whole grain per serving, 4 grams of fiber, and less than 1 gram of added sugar! This is so rare for cereal since most are loaded with added sugar. I highly recommend this one as a great option if your or your family members are cereal lovers. Enjoy it with milk and berries, or add to a yogurt or smoothie bowls for extra crunch!

That’s all for this edition! Check back next week for more of what I recommend, and make sure to read last week’s blog, if you missed it!