Helping In The Kitchen

My kids love being in the kitchen with me.  The other night, when I was feeling particularly sick with the flu, Kasi offered to cook supper.  She baked chicken, with macaroni and cheese and edamame on the side.  It was delicious!  But, it also led to a little jealousy on Brandi's part, so tonight, she helped with dinner.

I wanted to make my seasoned potatoes (you can find my recipe here) so I asked her to cut the potatoes for me.  At 9, she was a little nervous using a sharp knife, so Bob found an interesting solution.  He cut the potatoes into disks, and then Brandi used my pizza cutter to cut the potatoes into bite sized pieces.  It was an inspired solution that allowed her to help without endangering her fingers.

Cooking Creme Chicken

Looks good, right?  The other night, I sent my husband to the store (the girls and I were fighting the flu, so we were quarantined at home) and he came home with this new product from Philadelphia, called Cooking Creme.  It is delicious! 

I simply sauteed some chicken cubes in my pan, and once it was cooked through I added the creme.  Once it was all melted and bubbly, I added broccoli and corn (both of which I cooked in the microwave).  That's it.  Everyone loved it. I am sure you can add whatever kinds of veggies you like.

There are several different flavors of the Creme, and I used the Italian Cheese & Herb one.  I am looking forward to trying the garlic variety, too.  I actually have some chicken left over from last night...I might see if I can come up with something garlicy tonight.

Frieling Nonstick 9" Glass Bottom Springform Pan Review

Isn't this a beautiful pan?  I was given the opportunity to review a product from one of CSNStores 200+ stores, and I chose this cheesecake pan.  I have been wanting to make a homemade cheesecake for a long time, but I didn't own a springform pan.  I was so excited when this pan came in the mail. I knew I could make an awesome cheesecake, and I was right!  The only thing that I didn't like was that my cheesecake split while it was cooling.  Has this happened to you, and does anyone know how to keep it from happening in the future?  The first picture is what the cake looked like right out of the oven.  The second picture shows what happened after it cooled for a bit.

Looks delicious, right?

 Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 5 (250 g) packages PHILADELPHIA Brick Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 cup sour cream
• 4 eggs
• 1 (19 ounce) can cherry pie filling

Directions

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F if using a silver 9 inch springform pan (or to 300 degrees F if using a dark nonstick 9-inch springform pan). Mix crumbs and butter; press firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes.
2. Beat cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
3. Bake 1 hour 10 minutes or until center is almost set. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Top with pie filling before serving. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator. 

 The pan worked perfectly for this recipe.  The cake separated from the sides of the pan easily, and when I released the clasp, the pan came off perfectly.  I loved the glass bottom, because it made it super easy to serve the cheesecake.  There was no transferring it to a serving dish...it was already on one, which is dishwasher safe. I would recommend this pan to anyone looking to make a cheesecake.

**I received this pan free of charge from csnstores to review and keep.  The opinions expressed are my own, and we not influenced in any way.  I was not required to write a positive review, but how could I not when I love the product so much?

Birthday Dinner With Mom

 My mom made the most delicious dinner for me for my birthday.  The picture above does not do it justice..those are lasagna rolls.  Simply put, they are lasagna noodles rolled up with all different kinds of yummy cheeses in the middle.  There was also a cheese sauce on the bottom, and red sauce on top.  I am not kidding when I say they were so good!  Then again, everything my mom makes is awesome.

In addition to my two cakes, my mom also made red velvet cupcakes.  I was not lacking in birthday goodies this year at all. :)

Super Bowl Weekend

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kenmore Live Studio. All opinions are 100% mine.

This weekend, most Americans will be glued to their televisions watching the Super Bowl.  There will be parties with lots of food, and probably a lot of beer, too.  We don't watch football in our house, so we will probably just hang out together.  It's my birthday this weekend, so we will most likely celebrate that.

For those of you who do host Super Bowl parties, I found some Super Bowl Recipes online that look pretty good.  I love that the recipes are demonstrated, so it's easy to follow along.  Check out this recipe for bacon cheddar popcorn. 

I have to say, I would eat this any day of the week.  It would be a perfect addition to our family game nights.

This next video demonstrates shrimp skewers, and even though I don't like seafood, this is a simple recipe that I would make for company.  Heck, I would probably make it just for the family, too.  Check it out.

If you are throwing a Super Bowl Party this weekend, check out all the superbowlfood recipes.  The cook in the videos is fun to watch, and he is easy to follow.  You may find something new to add to your party spread. 

I Haven't Forgotten About This Blog...I Promise

I feel like I haven't been over here in a while.  I have been taking pictures of my food, just not blogging about it.  I had been overwhelmed trying to get ready for this Bank Of America photo shoot next week.  I spent today painting the cabinets in my kitchen, and they look awesome.  You can see pics here.  I finally decided on the cheesecake pan to review.  I got it in the mail a few days ago, and I found a great recipe to use.  I even bought all the ingredients.  Hopefully I can find the time this week to actually make it. 

What Should I Review From CSNStores?

I am beyond excited to be doing my first product review on this blog.  I have been working with CSNStores on my other blog, so I am familiar with all the awesome things they sell in their 200+ stores.  The only problem with having such a huge selection of products is deciding what I want to review.

There are several different directions I can go, but each will somehow involve my kitchen, since this is a blog about food.  The first thing I searched for was a table.  The one we have now is so old, and it only has three working chairs.  Since there are five of us, that makes having a family dinner at the table impossible.  I want a table that is big enough for all of us, but that doesn't take up too much space.  While searching for modern furniture, I found this table, and I adore it.

I love the bench seats, and the fact that the table is square.  That would make playing games so much easier, and we play at lot of games around here. 

As mush as I would love this table, I also want a bread maker.  I found this one, and it looks so cool!  Check it out:

I also want a Springform pan to make cheesecake from scratch, which is something I have never done but really want to try.  The pan I am leaning towards has a glass bottom, so it can double as the serving plate. 

With so many choices, I have no idea what I am finally going to settle on.  Probably the cheesecake pan.  I really want to make a cheesecake from scratch.  If you have read this blog before, you know I am on a quest to find the perfect cheesecake.  How cool would it be if I made the perfect cheesecake?

Peanut Butter Frosting

 

How cute are these?  I had to review Roundabout cupcake sleeves on my other blog, and they sent me these burger ones.  I made chocolate cupcakes, and needed a brownish frosting, so I went online in search of a recipe.   Most of the recipes I found were very similar, so I just kind of used my own judgment and came up with this recipe that worked pretty well.

1/2 stick butter, room temp

1 cup creamy peanut butter (I found a whipped peanut butter in the store that I used, and it worked great)

1/3 cup milk

3 cups powdered sugar

First, I creamed the butter and peanut butter.  I then added 2 cups of the sugar and the milk, while still creaming.  I added one more cup of sugar, and that was it.  Next time, I might add a little more peanut butter, because the sugar kind of muted the taste, but aside from that, it was really good.

Bruschetta

 We are snowed in today, so I figured it was the perfect day to break out a new recipe I have been wanting to try.  It's for bruschetta.  Doesn't it look good?  I didn't have all he ingredients, so I had to substitute some stuff, but it still came out yummy.

The recipe:

8 Roma tomatoes, diced

1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp olive oil

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Mix it all together and let sit for 1-2 hours.

Sounds easy, right?  It was.  I didn't have Roma tomatoes, so I seeded and diced regular tomatoes, which worked just as well.  I didn't have shredded Parmesan cheese, so I used the stuff in the shaker.  I also didn't have fresh basil, so I used parsley.  Over all, it came out delicious.  I will make it again when I have the right ingredients to see if it tastes any different.

It's Melting!

The ice is finally melting away, which makes me happy.  I love my family, but I need some time out of the house, so hopefully we can venture to the store.  Yesterday, Ryan was outside shoveling the snow and ice, and even though he had regular glove on, he was still complaining about his hands.  I think he was wishing he had a pair of work gloves to keep the blisters away.

He did an awesome job shoveling, so Bob was able to head out to work this morning.  He was a couple of hours late, but he made it.

I'm Always The Egg Girl

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TABASCO® Original Red. All opinions are 100% mine.

I make a really good deviled egg.  I do.  In fact, whenever we have any type of get together at my mom's house, I am always the one who brings the eggs.  My recipe is pretty basic, with mayo, salt, pepper, and some type of pickle (depending on what I have in the fridge), with paprika sprinkled on top.  That's it. 

I think it's time to find a new recipe.  Maybe something with a little kick.

I was playing around online, and found this recipe on the TABASCO® Original Red  website.  Check out the ingredients:

• 12 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
• 1/4 cup nonfat yogurt
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon original red TABASCO sauce
• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley, basil, dill, chives
• Salt to taste

I have to admit, it has never occurred to me to add yogurt to the yolk mixture.  I bet it makes the centers so creamy and delicious.  The TABASCO sauce, which is "so much more than hot", probably adds just enough of a kick to bring out all the other flavors.  I think I might try this recipe the next time I make eggs, which will probably be soon. 

You can find tons of other simple finger food recipes on TABASCO's Game-Day Party Menu.  I know a lot of people have Super Bowl parties, and these recipes would make some wonderful foods for that.  With their Pizza Perfected ideas, you can see how to use TABASCO Original Red to spruce up delivery and frozen pizzas.  Why not make this a new game day tradition?  You can each pick a different pizza and see how you can make it better using TABASCO Original Red.  Do you want to make it hot, or simply enhance the flavors?  My husband likes a lot of heat in everything he eats, so I'm curious to see how much sauce he'll add to his.

Who says you need to have a party to enjoy party foods, anyway?  These recipes would also work for our family game nights.  Or any other night, for that matter.

Check Out My New Pots

 

 Aren't they pretty?  I had mentioned months ago that I wanted new stainless pots, and my mom remembered.  I was thrilled when I opened them on Christmas.  The set has three different sized pots, as well as a small skillet.  (the non-stick frying pan in the picture is one of the ones I reviewed from CSNstores) The pots came with glass lids and three stainless utensils.  I love them!  The only issue I have is that I have no where to store them.  My cabinet where I have been keeping my pots and pans doesn't have a shelf, so everything is piled on top of each other, and I want to keep this set looking nice.  I think I am going to look for some type of shelving unit to go in my kitchen hallway to put them on.  Maybe something like this:

I already have a smaller version of this sitting on my counter.  It holds all my spices and olive oils.  I just hope the bigger shelves are affordable.

Feeding A Baby Is Easier Than Feeding A Teenager

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

I talk a lot on this blog about the thing I make for my family.  I have a couple of helpers (my girls) who are always trying to help, and most of the time I am more than happy to let them. I read somewhere that if you let your kids help prepare a meal they are more likely to eat it.  My kids aren't necessarily picky eaters, but there are some things that I have gotten them to try simply by allowing them to help prepare it.

When my kids were little, they were both breastfed and bottle fed.  Actually, they were always bottle fed, but for the first three months of each of their lives, I pumped my milk for them.  Once they were solely on formula, I was always on the lookout for the best price, because formula was, and still is, downright expensive.  These days, parents can buy on diapers.com Bright Beginnings formula, which is a store brand, not a name brand formula.  It is, however, just as nutritious for your baby.  It has to be.  There are laws about this.  It also costs a whole lot less than the store brand formulas, and as parents, I think it's in our blood to save money where ever we can, without sacrificing what's important.  You can find out more about this formula by visiting and liking Bright Beginnings on Facebook. 

I am off to make supper for the kids.  I wish it was as simple as heating up a bottle, but they always want meat and vegetables.  Sometimes, I miss the days of liquid meals.  They were so much easier to prepare!

I Made Sausage Balls

I had to write a post about sausage balls on my other blog, so tonight I decided to try out the recipe I found.  Let me tell you...they were delicious!  I didn't follow the recipe exactly....

The recipe called for 2 cups of biscuit mix, 1 pound of sausage, and 10 ounces of cheese.  You were supposed to mix the cheese and sausage and then add the biscuit mix.  I had 1 and 1/2 pounds of sausage, so I used 12 ounces of cheese and 3 cups of biscuit mix.  No matter how hard I tried, I could not get the biscuit mix to mix in with the sausage.  I ended up adding half a cup of milk, which worked great.  The original recipe said to bake at 350 for 20 minutes, but they weren't even close to done after that time, so I increased the temp to 425 and baked them for another 15 minutes, I think.  As you can see in the picture, they came out nice and brown.

I am definitely going to make these for our next get together.

Top Droppers ~ December

 Thanks to the following blogs who dropped on here the most in December:

comatised ~ Dreaming in digital

my kids are my world ~ This is a blog about my life as a wife and mother of three kids, who are, obviously, my world.

Travel Around The World ~ Tips, Learn, And Smartest choice to travels guide

Everyday Living ~  Weight-Loss tips and stories, mixed together with humor and fun. All this and more to help you get through the journey of Everyday Living

we serve for you ~ share about knowlegde in making online money

Symbian Freeware ~ Free Symbian GPS, VoIP, text reader software, free themes and games. Ovi Nokia games and freeware.

Home Improvement ~ Home Decorating Blog

Gadgets Resources ~ The Best Resources for Gadgets Information

Medical Research and Information ~ All information about medical research and information include, exercise, nutrition, health tips, and other information about health

Does Your Guac Rock?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Avocados from Mexico. All opinions are 100% mine.
What does your guacamole say about you?  You can find out by taking a simple quiz on the Avocados from Mexico Facebook page.  I just took it, and apparently I am a guac geek.  Check out my results:

It's strange, but a lot of that is pretty true.  I do always follow directions, and I do own lots of cookbooks.  It is weird how some of these Facebook quizzes are right on.  You should go find out what your Guac Star Personality is.

While you are on their Facebook page, check out their Guac Rocks Sweepstakes.  From now until January 28, 2011, you can enter to win one of 80 prizes, including:
(2) Grand Prizes – Two “Fly Away” tickets for a special getaway that’s sure to rock! ($1,500 value)
(3) First Place Prizes- $100 in free groceries to help stock up for your next party!
(80) Second Place Prizes – $20 coupon good for Avocados from Mexico, the secret ingredient that makes your Guac Rock!
  All you have to do to enter is fill out the entry form, and share what your secret ingredient is that makes you guacamole rock.  Keep in mind that you first have to "like" the Avocados from Mexico Facebook page to enter, and also to take the quiz.  I did, and I found lots of yummy recipes on there.  You can also follow them on Twitter. (@guacgrl)
Feel free to share your recipes for guacamole here, too.  I would love to see how you guys make yours.  I am always on the lookout for new and different party food recipes.

These Were So Easy!

 

What you need:

pretzels

hershey's kisses

m&m's

Lay the pretzels on a cookies sheet.  Place a kiss on top of each one.  Bake in a 175* oven for 10 minutes.  Immediately push an m&m into each kiss.  Throw in the freezer for a few minutes to set the chocolate.

Eat.

Yum.

This Is How I Spent My Day

Baking!  Those pretty looking packages all wrapped up in the back are banana breads.  I used this muffin recipe and they came out great. 

In the big red tub we have chocolate chips cookies (this recipe) and oatmeal chocolate chips cookies (they were a bagged cookie mix, and they came out yummy).  In the green tub is almond spritz cookies (this recipe) and in the little red tub are chocolate peanut butter oatmeal no bake cookies.  I'll post that recipe when I find a moment to breathe!  I love baking for Christmas, but it always seems like I don't have time for anything else.  All these cookies will end up in gift tubs, as well as the ones I still have to make tomorrow.

Cookie Baking Day!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 Imports. All opinions are 100% mine.

Every year, the girls and I get together with my mom and my sister to bake Christmas cookies.  We usually make a day of it, and when it's time to go, we all exchange cookies.  This year, I want to make cookies that don't have to bake, which I guess means I'm not technically making cookies.  I saw a recipe recently on someone's blog (I don't remember whose) on how to make cake balls, and they sound delicious!  I also want to make peanut butter balls. Neither of those "cookies" require the oven, so I won't have to impatiently wait my turn as my mom and sister bake their cookies.

Every year, my sister has to borrow my measuring spoons, because she doesn't have her own set.  I have two, so I don't mind sharing.  I am thinking, though, that measuring spoon will make a cute Christmas gift, especially if I get her these:

 

 

 

 

 

Aren't they adorable?  I found them at Pier 1.  I also found some cute measuring cups, but I think they are more my style than hers,  What do you think?

 

 

 

 

 

Pier 1 has some of the cutest holiday gifts I have seen this season. They are also very involved with Toys for Tots.  You can make a donation at any register, or simply drop off an unwrapped toy at any of their stores.  If you are like me and want to help but are running low on funds, you can like them on Facebook.  For every fan they get, they will donate $1 to Toys for Tots.  It's an easy way to help make Christmas a little better for needy kids.

Is It A Surprise That My Most Recent Wicked Fresh Moment Involved Food?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Toms of Maine. All opinions are 100% mine.

Last Sunday night was Junior's Christmas party.  His company rented out an entire restaurant.  They paid for dinner, dessert, and drinks, as long as you drank coke or water.  Alcohol was available, of course, but the guests had to pay for that themselves.  We don't drink, so the entire night was free.  We hung out with a few of his coworkers that we are friendly with, and had a really good time.  The food was delicious.  They had a chicken and mushroom dish that I really enjoyed, and then there was dessert.  I didn't feel like going back to the buffet, so I told Junior to gab me something if there was anything up there he thought I would enjoy.  We shared a wicked fresh moment when he put a plate in front of me that had the biggest piece of chocolate peanut butter cake.  It was chocolate cake with peanut butter cream between the layers and a chocolate layer on top.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it!  It looked a lot like this:

 

 

 

 

Have you had a Wicked Fresh Moment lately?  If so, Tom's Of Maine wants to hear all about it.  In case you don't know who Tom's of Maine is, they are a leading natural products company focused on oral and personal care.  Right now they are having a contest where they are giving away a $500 Target gift card and other prizes.  Basically, all you have to do is Tweet your wicked fresh moment, making sure to follow Tom's on Twitter.  You can gain a bonus entry by liking them on Facebook.  All of the official details can be found on the That's Wicked Fresh contest page.  If you enter, be sure and leave a comment here telling me what your Wicked Fresh Moment is.