Introducing “The Family Dish” #MyShoppingCart (SPON)
I have some extremely exciting news that I am finally able to share with everyone. I was asked by Unilever (you know the company who has awesome brands such as Ragu, Lipton, Breyers, Skippy, Knorr, and more?) to be a contributor to a new website that they have called “The Family Dish”. The Family Dish is a site geared to having fun in the kitchen with great recipes, and also getting your children involved. The mission is to reconnect families through cooking.
I can remember watching shows on television where families are cooking meals together, talking, and having a great time. Not only does this make for a fantastic family time, but also, your children can learn to cook and learn all of those secret family recipes.
As it is a family usually doesn’t have much time to spend together why with moms and dads working, kids in sports and activities. Homework, housework, and yard work that just doesn’t leave a lot of time. I have always been a stickler that we (my family) eats dinner together every night. That way at least we have that 1/2 to an hour to talk, and know whats going on in each of our worlds. Now with working on this project with “The Family Dish” I can make the time last a little longer with them helping me to cook before the dinner as well.
I plan on rotating my crew of 4 kids and spending some individual time with each of them in the kitchen. On some days I will also work with them on a meal as one group as well.
So, come on over the www.thefamilydish.com and see what’s cookin!
The featured Mom contributors are , Linda Sellers (Short Pump Preppy), Jennifer Leet (The Dirty Shirt), Tracy Reinhardt (Crazy Suburban Mom), Liz Latham (Hoosier Homemade), Carol Cain (NYCity Mama), April Atwater (Simply the Sweet Life), Cheryl Sousan (Tidy Mom), Jennifer Schmidt (Beauty and Bedlam), Jill Ann Berry (Musings from Me), Lisa Douglas (Crazy Adventures in Parenting), Heather Durdil (Domestic Extraordinaire), along with myself will post video diaries and written posts on The Family Dish website showing their hands-on experiences turning cooking dinner time into quality time with their families.
To help get families started, www.TheFamilyDish.com features an exclusive cookbook with easy-to-prepare, family-friendly recipes from the Unilever Consumer Test Kitchens, and tips from the trusted brands supporting the program: Ragú® Pasta Sauce, Hellmann’s® / Best Foods® Mayonnaise, Knorr® Pasta and Rice Sides, Skippy® Peanut Butter, and Lipton® Recipe Secrets®.
Also fun for the whole family is a chance to win a Family Culinary Vacation to Orlando by entering “The Family Dish Contest,” which asks families to share their own experiences cooking together. From July 25 to August 30, 2010, families can enter “The Family Dish Contest” by visiting thefamilydish.com and uploading a video about their best experiences cooking as a family. Twenty semi-finalist videos will be posted on the site for public voting to choose a winner. Public voting will take place from September 15-30, 2010. Official rules are available at www.thefamilydish.com.
For more quick tips, recipe ideas and to find out what’s cooking in the Unilever Consumer Test Kitchens, follow Lauren, Anna Marie and their team on Twitter @KitchenDishin’.
Thank you in advance for visiting!
The Plus Size Mommy
*Disclosure- This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in Unilever’s Family Dish Program. For more great ideas, go to www.thefamilydish.com.
Father’s Day Breakfast With Aunt Jemima
We used the Father’s Day recipes that were sent to me from Aunt Jemima to make Father’s Day breakfast extra special yummy this year.
All the kids created bears using the Aunt Jemima pancakes and mini pancakes to make breakfast cuter and yummier.
Here is the Whrrl of our breakfast today :
Thank you Aunt Jemima for these yummy recipes.
The Plus Size Mommy
*Disclosure – I was sent coupons from Aunt Jemima for the pancakes.
“Fourth of July’s Cooler When Kids Help Create Rice Krispies Treats Recipes!” #ricekrispies
I was recently honored with the title “Rice Krispies Brand Ambassador for The Motherhood.com” Summer Edition of the Rice Krispies Recipe Box Challenge, along with 9 other woman. We were asked to participate in a very fun project where we were sent a “Mystery box” and a “Mystery Clue Word” in the mail. We had to get with our team by using Twitter, Facebook, and any other way possible to complete a sentence by putting each of our mystery word clues together. Then using the mystery ingredients in our Mystery box and other ingredients we had to come up with a recipe to go along with that sentence.
I was so excited to be a part of this awesome project. I love clue’s and games, and this was right up my alley, cause I love cooking too. I must admit I was a bit nervous on how/what recipe I would make. But after thinking about it the moment we fit our sentence together, “Fourth of July’s Cooler When Kids Help Create Rice Krispies Treats Recipes!” (WITH “COOLER” being the Main CLUE WORD) It was like a light bulb turned on in my head and I was ready to Rock and Roll with this.
I couldn’t wait to get started today, in fact, if I wasn’t so tired, I would’ve started yesterday night after our sentence was approved, but you know, I did have to go buy other ingredients today and I did need some sort of sleep 
So today bright and early I got up with my girls and we went to get pedicure’s and then we hit Walmart to shop for what we needed. They were so excited too. I told them my idea’s and they were sooooo wanting to get home to create our recipes!
I made a Muvee of us creating our recipes. I can only submit 1 of my recipes for this contest. The winning recipe will get their recipe posted to www.ricekrispies.com. I am hoping of course to win, but I am so excited to just share my recipes with you and also see what wonderful creations the other ladies come up with.
Here is My Muvee followed by my 3 recipes. Please note, I am very new at making vlogs/movies on my blog, so please bear with me 
I am hoping to get better with every movie I make.
To let you in on what was happening on the video a little -
The first pics of the stars and paper are what I was sent for my clues. I was also sent a box of Rice Krispies and a bag of Jet Puffed Marshmallows. I just wanted to include these because I thought it was so sweet.
Then you can see me melting butter and marshmallows. Then you can see me making all of the food and in some instances my family members enjoying what I came up with! They were all very pleased at the treats I made.
Now for the Recipes :
1. Strawberry Rice Krispie Cakes
- –
Butter – 3 Tablespoons
Marshmallows – 1 pack
Rice Krispies – 6 cups
Strawberries – sliced (about 2 pints, depends on how many people your serving)
Cool Whip
Vanilla Ice Cream
cupcake pan
Melt butter and Marshmallows in large pan. Put Rice Krispies into a large bowl. Pour melted butter/marshmallow mixture over the Rice Krispies and mix well. Spray cupcake pan with Non-stick cooking spray. Mold Rice Krispie treats into cupcake pan into circles, let cool. Wash and slice strawberries.
After Rice Krispie “cakes” cool, remove one and place on a plate. put 1 scoop of Vanilla ice cream on top (or your favorite kind). Spoon starberries on top. Put a dollop of Cool Whip on top. Use patriotic sprinkles onto the Whipped topping. Of course top it off with a 1/2 of a strawberry. VOILÀ ! Serve…
2. Rice Krispie Ice Cream Sandwiches
-
3 Tablespoons of Butter
6 cups of Rice Krispies (can use plain or Cocoa Krispies)
Vanilla Ice Cream (or your favorite kind)
1 pack of Jet Puffed Marshmallows
Melt 3 Tbs. of Butter and 1 bag of Marshmallows in a pan. Put 6 cups of Rice Krispies into a large mixing bowl. Pour melted mixture over the top of the Rice Krispies and mix well. Spread onto a thin baking sheet. Press it down firm onto pan. Cool.
Cut into rectangular squares (or any shape you desire). Take one flat rectangle off of cookie sheet and place on plate. Top with Vanilla Ice Cream. Add another Rice Krispie Treat rectangle on top, pressing down firm into a sandwich, Serve. You can also place these into individual baggies and store in the freezer to save for later yumminess.
3. Snap, Crackle, Pop Sticks
- -
- Zesty Italian - Genoa Salami, Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Asiago & Mozzarella Cheses
- Roasted Garlic and Spinach – sweet-roasted cloves of garlic, spinach, and a creamy garlic sauce
- Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs
- Black Bean Dip
- Sour Cream Chicken
- Vegetarian Chili
- 2 VIP coupons for Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dough – coupons are only valid in the U.S.
- 3 Great holiday platters to serve your new creations to your guests
- The Elves are Back in Town, The Tradition continues…& WIN!* (theplussizemommy.com)
6 Cups of Rice Krispies
3 Tablespoons of butter
1 pack of Jet Puffed Marshmallows
Vanilla Ice Cream
Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup
Smucker’s Chocolate Fudge Shell Ice Cream topping
6 oz. plastic cups
Craft Sticks (like tongue depressors)
1 – 16 oz. cup
Melt butter and Marshmallows in a big pan. Place 6 cups of Rice Krispies into a large bowl. Cover with melter Marshmallow Mixture, Mix Well. Squirt in some Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup until Rice Krispies turn chocolate colored. Squirt into 6 oz. plastic cups enough Syrup to cover the bottoms. next layer in Rice Krispie Treat Mixture, Then a layer of Vanilla Ice Cream. Then 1 more layer of Rice Krispie Treat mixture. Stick a stick into the middle and place into Freezer to set (about an hour). Pour Smucker’s Chocolate Fudge Shell Ice Cream topping into the 16 oz. cup. When set take out cups of mixture, pull gently out of cups with Stick (will be like a Popsicle). Dip All the way down into chocolate shell and swirl until the whole thing is covered (except for the stick). Take out and let shell harden around the ice cream mixture. Bon Appetite!
Once these are hardened you can place into individual baggies and store in Freezer.
I had so much fun with this project and so did my whole family. Thank you to TheMotherhood.com for asking me to be a part of this Ambassadorship. Also Thank you to www.ricekrispies.com for bringing this exciting recipe challenge to us.
If you would like to see what the other 9 ladies are making, you can visit them at their sites, or by keeping touch with them via Twitter by using the #ricekrispies hashtag, below are their names :
Amanda Mommy Mandy http://www.mommymandy.com
Kelsey Naptime Chef http://www.thenaptimechef.com
Jodi Mom’s Favorite Stuff http://www.momsfavoritestuff.com/index.php
Melissa GirlyMama http://www.girlymama.typepad.com
Maricris Zen Mama Ventures http://zenforyou.dalefg.net
Alicia The Mommy Insider http://www.themommyinsider.com
Jenny Mommin’ It Up http://momminitup.com
Kimberly Pretty Pink Momma http://prettypinkmomma.blogspot.com
Melanie Modern Mami http://www.modernmami.com
I cannot wait to see what everyone is cooking up! Speaking of cooking up, I am also giving away a Rice Krispies TreatsTM Cookbook
Here is how you can win :
I came up with 3 recipes but I can only choose 1 to enter into the Recipe contest to have my recipe posted on www.ricekrispies.com. So, here is where I need help. Leave me a comment telling me which 1 of my 3 recipes you think I should enter. I will use random.com to randomly pick from all comments left on this post the winner of the cookbook!
For a bonus entry, go and visit www.themotherhood.com ‘s Rice Krispie Circle and leave another comment saying which of my 3 recipes you think I should enter and then come back over here and tell me you did. For vising the circle and then stopping back to let me know you did. I will reward you with a Bonus entry to try and win the cookbook with!
This giveaway begins NOW and will end on July 24th at 5PM EST. Winners will be announced via this blog on July 25th, 2010. ONE winner will be chosen via random.org from all eligible comments left on this post. Official Rules to this giveaway can be found at the bottom of this post. (PLEASE READ THEM BEFORE ENTERING).
Thank you for your Help with choosing the hopefully winning recipe.
OFFICIAL RULES FOR THE COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY – View official giveaway rules here.
The Plus Size Mommy
*Disclosure – I was sent a stipend as part of this project with The Motherhood. Music in the Youtube Video was from Sony, and song by Whitney Houston.
Freschetta Pizza ~ Make At Home For An Inexpensive Pizza Night #Freschetta
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Freschetta. All opinions are 100% mine.
I recently was asked to sample Some Freschetta FlatBread for myself and my family. I consider my family definite picky conissuers of pizza because if they do not like it, they will never eat that kind again.
We usually order pizza and have it delivered. It is just easier and I know which pizza shops my family already loves. But ordering in pizza once a week can definitely get expensive. As a mom and being budget conscious, I wanted to seek other alternatives. So I was approached to try the Freschetta pizza, I said, sure why not, it is Free and the best way to try something new is to try it for free.
So, I said sure, I would try it out. There are many types of Freschetta Pizza ! I was surprised with all the choices.
There are 2 new Freschetta FlatBread ones
There are also Pepperoni and 5 cheese varieties. There are Brick Oven, PizzAmore’, Naturally Rising, and now the new FlatBread.
We tried the Zesty Italian Style FlatBread pizza & the Naturally Rising Pepperoni Pizza.
My whole family enjoyed them both. They did like the FlatBread one best of all.
The toppings are very generous and the cheese and spices make you feel like your in Italy or at least you feel like your eating a premium pizza. We really enjoyed the family pizza night and I enjoyed that they cost less then ordering from the pizza place, they are easy to make, and the clean up is minimal.
You can Follow Freschetta Pizza on Twitter by clicking here :http://twitter.com/freschettapizza
Or Become a Fan on Facebook Here : http://www.facebook.com/freschettapizza
If you have tried Freschetta Pizza, What was your experience ? Please leave a comment, or a few and let us know!
Also, You can visit The Freschetta Website Here : http://www.freschetta.com/ and get a $1 off Coupon for your next purchase. You can also share some of your Fresh Idea’s on their site as well.
The Plus Size Mommy
Here is a “HINT” On How To Have a Great Memorial Day Picnic
May 24, 2010 by theplus
Filed under Foodie, Health/Fitness
This weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season, and with that comes poolside drinks, barbeques, and lots of food! We all know how hard it can be to resist the temptation of sipping on a sugary cocktail or indulging in that chili cheese dip, but what if there were delicious alternatives for your family?
For those of you who enjoy sweet beverages or cocktails, HINT, a 0 calorie, 0 sugar flavored water is your perfect alternative. With just a ‘hint’ of natural fruit flavor, and no preservatives, HINT will give you that sweet taste you crave without all the sugar and calories. It comes in 10 flavors, so it’s perfect in your favorite cocktail!
Additionally, below you will find some great recipes provided by Wellspring Camps, the nations leading weight loss organization, that you won’t feel guilty about indulging in, including:
Recipes:
Black Bean Dip
Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
1 -15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 small can green chilies
1 cup salsa
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp cumin
optional: 1/4- 1/2 c cilantro
Blend all ingredients in a food processor. Add salt if needed.
Calories: 42
Fat: 0g
Sour Cream Chicken
Ingredients:
1.25 lbs. Chicken breast, boneless skinless
1 cup Onions, Chopped
1.5 Tablespoons Paprika
½ teaspoon Salt
2 cups Chicken broth, fat free
2 cups Sour Cream, fat free
2 teaspoon Flour
Method:
1. Lightly spray pan (oven safe dish) with cooking spray and place chicken breasts in pan
2. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes
3. Sautee onions in a skillet (use cooking spray) until translucent, not brown
4. Add chicken broth, paprika, and salt – reduce stove to low heat.
5. Stir flour into the sour cream, mix well
6. Slowly add sour cream mixture to the broth, mix well
7. Add reserved chicken breasts and simmer until chicken is heated through and the sauce has thickened.
Yield: 5 Servings, 4 ounce chicken breasts
Nutritional Information:
201 Kcalories
31 grams Protein
1.66 grams Fat
FROM ME :
I was sent some HINT drinks to try in some tasty Mother’s Day Healthy Cocktails, they were very tasty. I am not a drinker per say, but every now and then, I will have a taste I love Virgin mixed Drinks which you can totally make as well. Here are some Recipes for the HINT COCKTAILS that I tried :
HINT COCKTAILS
Healthy Mama
1 Part Vodka
1 1/2 Parts Watermelon HINT
1 Watermelon Slice
Slimming Sally
3 Parts Gin
2 Dashes of Maraschino Liquer
1 part HINT Mango – Grapefruit
Splash of Simple Syrup
Relaxing Raspberry
2 oz. Raspberry Rum
6 oz. HINT Raspberry- Lime
Splash of Lime Juice
Sweet Mommy
2 oz. Pomegranate Vodka
6 oz. HINT Pomegranate- Tangerine
2 Mint Leaves
Dash Honey Syrup
Hope your Memorial Day Picnic’s are Enjoyable. Please be safe and do not Drink and Drive.
The Plus Size Mommy
* Disclosure – I was sent bottles of HINT to try in order to write this post. All recipes are from Hint, but all opinions of Hint of mine are 100% my honest opinion.
Enjoy Your Week end!
The Plus Size Mommy
Make holiday entertaining extra-special by baking a stellar lineup of sensational starters* AND WIN !!!
No holiday celebration is complete without appetizers made with flaky crescent dough. Here are some easy, yet impressive recipes to try that call for either Pillsbury® Refrigerated Crescent Rolls or the newer Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations® refrigerated seamless dough sheet.
These appetizer recipes will help you entertain with ease while still wowing guests with tasty twists to familiar foods. And just one more reason to celebrate … each recipe requires just 20 minutes of preparation.
FROM ME:
I am ALWAYS baking with Pillsbury in my home. My children love the biscuits and rolls. I like that I can serve warm bread right from the oven with dinner within minutes. We love to make hot dog wraps too and other mini appetizers. I am going to love trying out these new recipes over the holiday break!
Now you can WIN as well : All you have to do to win is Vote on which one they would like you to recreate with your own personal touch.
BONUS ENTRY : post how making the new recipe went and how your family liked it.
you all have a chance at 4 entries each, 1 for your vote, and then up to 3 for actually making up to the 3 recipes and coming back and commenting how it went and how your family liked them, or not, or what their favorite one ended up being!
This is a tasty giveaway!
ONE WINNER will win : A PILLSBURY PRIZE PACK WHICH INCLUDES :
This giveaway starts NOW and will end on December 23rd, 2009 (8pm EST.). WINNER WILL NOT get prize pack until after Christmas!!! Winner will be posted to this site on December 24th.
THANK YOU to all who enter, Happy Holidays…. Good Luck !
The Plus Size Mommy
*I also received a prize pack which Pillsbury provided you with the free product, information, and gift packs through MyBlogSpark.
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