Kyvan Foods - Appreciate the Goodness

Soul Food Selections #Appreciate the Goodness
Tested and Tried by Mom's Lifesavers - WE LOVE IT!

We had the honor of trying out the amazing and flavorful KYVAN foods.  KYVAN foods most graciously sent us 3 jars of goodness for us to try.  We received the finger-licking Sweet BBQ Sauce, the delicious Honey Apple Salsa and fantastic Jambalaya Sauce.

Former NFL player, Reggie Kelly and his wife, Sheila started KYVAN foods together after noticing how much people loved their food!

Read their story here: (excerpt from their website!)
Cooking is a way of life in the South and nobody knows that better than NFL Pro Reggie Kelly, owner of KYVAN™ Soul Food Selections. Reggie grew up in Aberdeen, MS and played football at Mississippi State University. He also excelled at the Pro level by playing 13 years in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons. Even though Reggie has traveled the world, he has not forgotten his southern roots, one of which consists of great cooking…a tradition passed down from generation to generation.

Reggie explains, “Since I was a little boy, cooking in my household has been an event within itself and my family is a big reason why I love to cook. Growing up, they would always tell me, “Reggie, when you cook, make sure you do it with love.” “My family believed that great meals should be prepared in such a way that once eaten, it would touch your “SOUL”. I gathered that I should cook in such a way that first time visitors would feel welcomed and feel as though they are a part of my family.”

Reggie ‘took to heart’ his family’s advice especially when He and his wife Sheila held football camps in their hometown of Aberdeen. The football camps were designed to reward the kids who have excelled academically in the classroom. He also invited fellow NFL stars & coaches to volunteer and make the events special for the kids. True to form, after the camps, Reggie’s family cooked for the volunteers and they raved about the flavor and goodness of the meals. “Their responses were overwhelming and brought a smile to my face when they expressed their enjoyment of the meals and the difficulty of finding flavorful meals like these anywhere else”, said Reggie.

 Those compliments started the ‘wheels to churn’ in my mind and a light bulb flashed, prompting my wife and I to ‘come up’ with a great idea… a Soul Food Line!”
Reggie’s NFL peers were definitely inspirational in the birth of KYVAN™ Foods because their expressions reminded him that people have always enjoyed good food, especially the kind that touches the soul! And since people from all walks of life really enjoy Down South cooking, Reggie thought, why not bring a piece of the south to their homes, compliments of his family. '

So Reggie gathered his family secret recipes, pitched the idea to retailers, and now we have before our eyes KYVAN™ Soul Food Selections. As stated by Reggie, “It’s my goal to pass down to my kids (Kyla & Kavan) and to everyone the gift passed down to me… An Appreciation Of Good Food.”

Isn't that the BEST story?  They are such great people!

Mom's Lifesavers Makes Jambalaya!

Jambalaya Recipe

I decided to put my hubby to work one snowy day in Boston using the KYVAN Jambalaya Sauce.  He was so excited to try this sauce, it took no coaxing at all....guys love football, and I when I told him an NFL football player created the sauce...he was GAME!
I have to tell you, the sauce that KYVAN makes takes the guesswork out of this traditional southern meal.  I was so proud that we were able to wow our family with this perfect blend of flavor with the right amount of spice. It was PERFECT.
We adapted a great recipe from Emeril Lagasse on the Food Network for this Boston family rendition.

Ingredients

• 12 medium shrimp, peeled, deveined (we kept them whole)
• 6 ounces chicken, diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes
• 1 cup rice
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 5 ounces sausage sliced
• Salt and pepper
• KYVAN JAMBALAYA SAUCE

Directions

In a bowl combine shrimp, chicken and sausage. In a large saucepan heat oil over high heat with onion, pepper and celery, 3 minutes. Add garlic, and tomatoes. Stir in rice and slowly add broth. Reduce heat to medium and cook until rice absorbs liquid and becomes tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. When rice is just tender add shrimp, chicken and sausage. Cook until meat is done, about 10 minutes more. WE added the KYVAN sauce at this point and let simmer a bit. Season to taste with salt, pepper.

This recipe I'm sure can be adapted and improved, but it was so delicious I'm craving more.  I better order some quick!

KYVAN Sweet BBQ Sauce

I loved this sauce.  It was so tasty.  All I did was add it to some chicken breast, put it in the crockpot and forgot about it.  Four hours later,  I had an awesome pulled BBQ chicken meal.  I didn't have to add anything! It was gobbled up by the kids and hubby in 10 seconds flat...well, maybe 8!

KYVAN Honey Apple Salsa

Simply my favorite salsa right now.  I had some for Bonnie and I to sample over one of our business meetings.  I had the chips and salsa out for her to try, and after a few hours we devoured the entire jar of salsa.  It's THAT good! Bonnie kept commenting about the perfect blend of sweet and spicy.  And I love the consistency of it and flavor.  It will become a staple in our home for sure. Especially for Super Bowl '14!

How to Buy it 

Website:

KYVAN has a website to order all of these soul food selections

kyvan82.com 

Connect with KYVAN 

Follow KYVAN on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest

Kyvan gives back to their community too....

 "Mouthwatering dishes have been a trademark of the South for generations!”

- Reggie Kelly