Sorbee Sugar Free Candies Are Back!!

Sorbee Candy has long been a staple in the offices of dentists and doctors, especially pediatricians. The sugar free candy recently became unavailable due to production issues. My Brands has however, been able to strike a deal with the manufacturer to bring the products back to market. Whether it is an office looking for a sugar free snack to offer or someone with diabetic concerns interested in low glycemic index foods, this is a great one.

To place your order visit the Sorbee Sugar Free Candy page or call us at 888.281.6400.

Krusteaz Fat Free Fudge Brownie Mix is discontinued, but we still have some!

Krusteaz Fat Free Fudge Brownies

Who doesn't love brownies? What if I told you they were FAT FREE?! Krusteaz has unfortunately decided to stop production of their fat free fudge brownie mix. My Brands is your source as the remaining inventory clears out. Some may have already began to notice it is harder to locate in local stores. This will just continue to become harder and harder to find. Make sure you get yours before they are all gone!

Click to order Krusteaz Fat Free Brownies!

Sugar Twin Packaging Change

We know there are a lot of you out there who buy Sugar Twin and we know why. It is a great sugar substitute with a one to one ratio for sweetness. So it can easily be swapped in for sugar, cup for cup. But you may have been noticing some changes with this great product. B&G Foods, the manufacturer of Sugar Twin has redesigned the logo and packaging for the product line that is distributed in the US. You can see the changes illustrated in the image here. The Sugar Twin products distributed in Canada will still have the familiar old packaging style for now. Rest assured that the contents are exactly the same and only the picture on the box has changed and keep enjoying the sweetness of Sugar Twin!

Love the pet, Hate the pet hair: A friendly guide to shedding management!

For all the pet owners out there who are overwhelmed by their pet's tendency to shed, we have heard your cry. Consider these wonderfully creative options to help create a more constructive environment for you and your pet.

• Weave blankets - If it can keep a sled dog warm in the arctic wind, just think how toasty you will be as snug as a bug in a rug. But really, check for fleas first.
• Use it to stop oil spills - Now here is a great way we can all pitch in to show our love for the environment, just shear your pet and send it to your nearest coastal disaster.
• Create jewelry - Blood diamonds? Not on my conscience! Precious metals? So ostentatious! Oh, look what the cat brought in. Perfect!
• Make fancy pottery - The only thing that would make little Timmy's vase/ash tray/paper weight/clump thingy better is if he rolled it around on the floor first. How unique!
• Fashion your own clothes - How could anyone possibly improve upon the perfectness of nature? These are stunning! Just don't wear them out in the rain because the "wet dog" smell takes a little of the majesty away.

These tastefully inspired creations are just the tip of the iceberg when you start to think outside the "litter" box. (pet humor). But how then to I start to gather up the hair for these crafts, you ask. Many have searched for the best vacuum for pet hair and some have bought pet hair magnets, lint rollers, masking tape, or some other crazy contraption. Often these do not clean well, and when they do, the pet hair is often irretrievable.

Enter Shed Guard from the folks at B&G who brought you Static Guard! Simply spray the affected area and then wipe up the hair with the special brush cap. The truth is, this stuff really works wonders. Check out this short video to see for yourself.

Get your order of Shed Guard today and you could be pet hair free by tomorrow!

Parmesan Ranch Smoked Potato Salad Recipe

Warmer weather is coming and so is picnic season! We have been waiting all winter to get back out there and enjoy food with friends and family around the picnic table. Whether you are celebrating a graduation, a holiday, or just a Sunday afternoon, this recipe is perfect. It adds an amazing level of flavor and sophistication to a comfort food everyone loves. I dare you! Bring this recipe and see if it doesn't become the highlight of the event. Just to forewarn you, you may need to bring extra copies of the recipe for the people who are going to be asking you for it. Enjoy!

Parmesan Ranch Smoked Potato Salad

Make 6 servings

• 1.5 pounds baby red skin potatoes
• 1.5 quarts water
• 1.5 tablespoons liquid smoke
• 1/2 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup cooked chopped bacon
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 1/3 cup chopped red onion
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1.5 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 1.5 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1.5 tablespoons ranch dressing
• 1.5 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Boil potatoes in water with salt and 1 table spoon liquid smoke until potatoes are fork tender. Drain off the fluid and let the potatoes set and cool. Cut the baby potatoes into halves or bite size pieces  Combine potatoes, green pepper, cooked bacon, celery, and onion. In a separate bowl mix together the mayonnaise, remaining half tablespoon liquid smoke, mustard, vinegar, ranch dressing, garlic powder, parmesan, and black pepper. Once everything has been stirred, pour the sauce over the potato mixture and mix till everything is coated evenly. Cover the dish and let it sit in the refrigerator to allow flavors to blend; overnight is best.

Take the Tea Test

Click to open a full view of the image to really see the difference clearly!

Have you ever wondered why your tea lacks bold rich flavor? Do you kill the nutritional value of the tea with scoops of sugar and splashes of cream? Try tearing open one of those tea bags to see whats inside. We took a bag of Bonomelli Chamomile Tea and another leading brand of tea and did just that. The results were impressive. Bonomelli is an all natural tea that uses all parts of the chamomile flower harvested when the essential oils of the plant are at their peak period to ensure the highest quality. You can clearly see the actual parts of the flower and the quality of the ingredients. The other tea bag looked like it had a mixture of saw dust and plant particles.

Try it yourself! Take a bag of your favorite tea and open it up. We would love to see what you find. Post a picture and let us know if your tea passes the test.

Our Top 9 Tips for the Perfect NCAA Basketball Bracket

One of our favorite times of the year is just around the corner; the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament! Hooray!  If you’re like us, you’ve been plotting for months on how to fill out the perfect NCAA bracket to win the company pool and beat all of your coworkers.  And if you’re like most of us, you have no idea what you’re doing.  That’s why we combined our My Brands brain power to create a list of tips that we think will bring us to victory! You may notice that none of the following tips have anything to do with the athletic ability or record of the college basketball teams. If we’ve learned anything from past NCAA tournament heartbreak, the stats don’t matter! That’s what puts the madness in the March. So we are skillfully basing our tips on cold, hard superstitions.  Take notes.

1. Do not, under any circumstances, do any research. Remember, there is nothing predictable, rational or fair about the tournament, so what’s the point? Just listen to our awesome advice.
2. Go with your first gut reaction. When you’re staring at the two teams on paper, go with your instinct and pick the first one that jumps out at you. No hesitation! Bonus: it cuts down on time!
3. Pick the pretty colors. When you look good on the outside, you feel good on the inside. And then you win! Makes sense to us.
4. Go for the meanest mascots.  Pick the mascot that, in real life, would be tough to beat.  Who do you think would win in a fight, a Kansas Jayhawk or a Michigan Wolverine?
5. Make it personal. If you have any (any!) connection to a team, we suggest you pick them.  Your childhood neighbor’s dad went to Ohio State? Pick them.  You always wished you had a butler? Pick Butler. 
6. Pick the team playing closest to home.  Nothing beats a good night’s sleep. You can bet the team that had to travel farthest with be the sleepiest.
7. It’s all in a name – If you have never heard of the team before, odds are no one else has either. That includes the good players coming out of high school. Seriously, if you were a hot shot basketball recruit would you choose Arkansas-Pine Bluff or Duke University? 
8. Call the ultimate shot! – A 16 seed has never beaten a 1 seed in the men’s tournament. Never! So, it is bound to happen at some point. Isn’t it? It’s super fun to brag after predicting an upset, so increase your chances by picking them often.
9. Have fun. You can drive yourself crazy trying to pick the perfect bracket.  Just do it for fun and en joy watching the games with family and friends. At least that’s what we’ve been telling ourselves.

Support your favorite team with one of our College Game Day Boxes! They're the perfect tailgating supply kit and feature officially licensed collegiate products.

Some Super TV Commercials That Never Mention A Bowl ;)

Sure. I know. There are some people out there who actually care about the Ravens and 49ers and can actually tell the difference between John and Jim Harbaugh. But for the rest of us, the big game is all about the commercials! This has long been known as the primary venue for some of the most creative commercials from some of our favorite brands. And it has been the scene for some really lousy ones too with farting horses and women teasing about internet hosting deals, am I right?!

Well, let's hope this year is a great one. In the meantime we want to tide you over till kick off with a few of our favorite ads.

"Fair," Hefty® Foam Plates Commercial, 2012

CLICK HERE TO WATCH AT MYBRANDS.COM HEFTY PAGE

Chupa Chups - Life Less Serious TVC - 'Spaceship'

CLICK HERE TO WATCH AT MYBRANDS.COM CHUPA CHUPS PAGE

Dinner Date: Your shellfish allergy won't slow down this date - Speed Stick

CLICK TO WATCH AT MYBRANDS.COM SPEED STICK PAGE

Ocean Spray TV Commercial for Blueberry Juice Drinks

CLICK TO WATCH AT MYBRANDS.COM OCEAN SPRAY PAGE

The World is Ending! #NGLAFOMB - BUTTERFINGER

CLICK TO WATCH AT MYBRANDS.COM BUTTERFINGER PAGE

The #1 Food Trend of 2013

SMOKE

According to the folks over at Huffington Post, smoke, is forecasted to be the number 1 trend for foodies in 2013. This flavor is showing up in more places than meat! It is being used creatively in everything from beverages to desserts. The Huffington Post article also mentions the industry leaders at New York Times, The Food Channel, Bon Appetit, and Baum + Whiteman affirming the trend and its versatile new applications.

If you are looking to be on the leading edge of culinary creativity, but aren't too eager to start a bonfire or drag out the smoker in the middle of winter, we suggest trying Wright's Liquid Smoke. Flavors include Applewood, Hickory, and Mesquite.

Find your favorite recipe and incorporate this hearty grilled flavor or try this one from our friends at Wright's.


Southwest Chili
Make 4 servings

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 (15 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 (16 oz.) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon WRIGHT'S® Liquid Smoke
• 1 (1.25 oz.) package Ortega® Chili Seasoning mix*

In a large saucepan, over medium-high heat, brown beef and
cook onion and green pepper in oil until tender; pour off excess
fat. Stir in remaining ingredients; heat to boil. Cover; reduce
heat. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot.
*2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon
each garlic powder and ground cumin and 1/8 teaspoon ground red
pepper may be substituted for the chili seasoning mix.