A Fun & Delicious Halloween With Hershey's #HersheysHalloween #sponsored

My favorite spooky time of year is finally here and our family could not be more excited! I love Halloween and so do my kids. They love everything about the holiday and all the fun activities that come along with it. Each year we do something a little different in October to celebrate Halloween, but there is one thing that is a must-have every single time: Hershey's chocolate. Okay, we have it in our house pretty much year-round, but Halloween gives us an even better excuse to buy more. Plus, they have all kinds of special Halloween-themed candy that is available for a limited time.

What are you doing this year to celebrate Halloween? 

You don't have to spend a bundle to have a good time and, as a family on a budget, we've come up with a fun list of great ways to have some spooky family fun!

1. Pumpkin Carving - Just this weekend we bought a pumpkin carving kit and two pumpkins for the kids. They were so excited to help out and couldn't wait to get their hands on the pumpkin seeds. The boys helped scoop out the "pumpkin brains" and then continued to plant a pumpkin patch while I carved up the pumpkins. My kids are just a little too young to carve, but we found some other ways for them to participate. We got out finger paints and markers so they could create their own masterpiece.

2. Trick-Or-Treating- As we learned this year, when Halloween falls on a weekday, you may find several different places to trick-or-treat in October. Many churches have fall festivals and trunk-or-treat, which are open to the public. My sis-in-law's neighborhood actually celebrated Halloween this past weekend. On Halloween, Publix is having an in-store trick-or-treat and several neighborhoods around the area are, too.

3. Decorating your home - The kids really enjoyed helping decorate. Most of our decorations came from the $1 store and others were leftovers from last year. We have light-up pumpkins, carved pumpkins, Halloween cut-outs, skeletons, ghosts, spider webs and, most importantly, candy!

4. Creating spooky treats & crafts - We checked out the Hershey's website for some Halloween recipe ideas using the candy we our Hershey's products, Reese's Pumpkin Spiders. Little hands may need some help, but this is great fun. Plus, you don't have to follow the recipe to a tee. For example, the recipe uses Reese's Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cups, but my husband had already eaten all of ours, so we used York Peppermint Patties, another of our favorite candies! The Reese's Peanut Butter cups are bigger and probably easier for smaller hands, though.

Here's the Hershey's version of the recipe with a little tweeking to make it more kid-friendly:

Ingredients

• REESE’S Peanut Butter Pumpkins (1.2 oz. ea.) OR York Peppermint Pumpkin Patties.
• Large pretzel twists 
• 1/4 cup HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Chips, HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips*
• YORK PIECES Candies (White or colored)
• Pumpkin Spice Hershey's Kisses

Directions

• Line tray or cookie sheet with waxed paper. Remove wrappers and set out your desired amount of Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins (or York Peppermint Pumpkin Patties). For each spider, pull apart the curved sections of pretzels, which will be the legs for your spiders. cut 8 matching curved sections from pretzels which will form the legs. They really don't have to be so exact. Set aside the pretzels pieces.
• Place milk chocolate chips in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 30 seconds; stir. If necessary, microwave at MEDIUM an additional 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until chips are melted and smooth when stirred.
• For each spider, place peanut butter pumpkin on prepared tray. Dip the pretzel legs, one at a time, into the chocolate and attach them to the peanut butter pumpkins. Then, add the candy eyes. We used York Pieces Candies and eatable food coloring markers to paint them red! You can use a dot of melted chocolate to dot the eyes if you want.  Allow chocolate to set before moving spiders.
• Cut Pumpkin Spice Hershey's Kisses in half and add one half to each spider. This is not in the original recipe, but we like this tasty addition. 

We've had such a fun-filled October and we still have more to come on Halloween day! I'll be sad when the month is over, but then we have some other holidays coming, so that means more sweets and treats. We hope you had a great October and will have a Happy Halloween filled with Hershey's candies!!!

Disclosure: This post was written for Hershey's in conjunction with Global Influence. Product was received for the writing of this post along with payment. All opinions written are my own. 

Trying A Delicious New Lactose-Free Blueberry Muffin Recipe with #Lactaid

This post is brought to you by The Motherhood and LACTAID®. Although I have been compensated for my time, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
We had the opportunity to try out Lactaid in May and have been huge fans every since then. My husband is extremely lactose intolerant as well as my son and my niece. I, too, cannot consume much lactose or my stomach will be a mess, so I used to just avoid dairy products when possible. However, now I've learned that this isn't at all necessary. Lactaid is a perfect lactose-free substitute and is actually 100% dairy!

What is Lactaid?
As I mentioned in my last post, Lactaid provides the delicious creamy taste of dairy without the stomach discomfort I often experience. This awesome product actually provides the lactase we need to break down lactose. This product only differs from other dairy products because of the added lactase enzyme for those of us who are lactose intolerant. You can read more about Lactaid and find some amazing recipe ideas on the Lactaid website.

My family loves muffins, so we were inspired by the delicious blueberry muffins we found on the Lactaid website under their recipes tab. All of our blueberries and blackberries are ready for picking, so we picked some fresh blueberries AND blackberries to put a twist on the recipe and give it a try. The kids were so excited.
First we got all of our ingredients together, including the most important:

LACTAID, of course (it tastes and looks like regular milk!):

Fresh blackberries picked from our yard:

Blueberries we picked earlier in the week and had frozen:

Once all of our ingredients were mixed, the baking begin and boy did they smell delicious... and yes, the boys picked the Christmas tree shapes for our muffins for some reason!

Once they were finished, I had to keep the boys away until they cooled off, which was very tough!

My husband is a huge fan of LACTAID and we have purchased several gallons since our first review purchase. He loves the 2% milk and the kids said they cannot tell a difference in the taste at all. I know I can't!
Here he is enjoying his muffin before they all disappeared. These were gone within 24 hours, so I know this is a recipe we will use again and again!

Here is the recipe in case you'd like to give this easy recipe a try, too:

Lactose Free Blueberry Muffins

Serves 6

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Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

30 min

Total Time

45 min

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 beaten eggs

3/4 cup LACTAID® Reduced Fat Milk

1/2 cup melted butter or cooking oil

1 tablespoon finely shredded orange peel

1 cup fresh blueberries or frozen blueberries, thawed

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease six 3 1/2-inch muffin cups or line with large paper bake cups. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl stir together flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture; set aside.

3. In a small bowl combine eggs, LACTAID® Reduced Fat Milk, butter or oil, and orange peel (if using). Add all at once to the flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in blueberries.

4. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. If desired, sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake in a 350 degree oven about 30 minutes or until golden. Cool in muffin cups on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from muffin cups; serve warm.

Notes

If you prefer standard-size muffins, spoon the batter into twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin cups and bake in a 375 degree oven about 20 minutes or until golden.

In our first post about Lactaid, we talked about our interesting and educational conversation with Melissa d'Arabian, who is a spokesperson for Lactaid. She recently appeared on The TODAY Show introducing Lactaid and a great lactose-free recipe, Chicken with lactose-free creamy mushroom sauce, that looks absolutely delicious. Check out the video and let me know what you think!


This post has been brought to you by The Motherhood and LACTAID®. I have been compensated for my time, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Father's Day Gift Idea: Kalorik Rollie Eggmaster Review & Giveaway

Have you ever wanted a cinnamon roll late at night or early in the morning? When you are the only one eating, there is no reason to make a huge batch, right? I have had many cravings during my pregnancy for cinnamon rolls and really don't want to heat up the oven and make a huge pack of cinnamon rolls, especially late at night. This is why I was so excited to try the Rollie by Kalorik! It is perfect for me and my late night/early morning snack needs.

Have you heard of the Rollie before? I know I hadn't, so here's a little more info about it:

Pretty neat right?

Well after getting the husband to try the eggs for breakfast before work, I knew exactly what I wanted to try out next! A Cinnamon Rollie! (Bet you couldn't have guessed that! Ha!) All I needed to do was plug in the Rollie, let it heat up, roll up my cinnamon roll into a tube shape, stick it in the Rollie for 8 short minutes &and it was done!

A yummy cinnamon roll topped with butter!

Quick, easy & just one for me! There are so many more delicious recipes you can try with the Rollie, including breakfast burritos and egg and sausage pigs in a blanket! You can really be creative with the Rollie and come up with other ideas, too. Take a look at the video below for some great recipe ideas! 

What I love about the Rollie:

• Easy to store.
• Easy to clean.
• Perfect for a quick snack/treat for 1.
• Easy breakfast for my husband in the morning when he doesn't want cereal.
• Simple for my husband to use.
• The short cord, makes it safe in my kitchen, it always has to be closer to the outlet keeping the cord from dangling in front of a very curious toddler.

Overall I really did enjoy using the Rollie and it is definitely something that will be used over and over again in my house? This is a great addition to our Kitchen and I can't wait to try out some other recipe ideas.

Have you heard of, or used the Rollie before? What was your experience like? Do you have a favorite recipe?

Ready for a giveaway?

One Lucky Reader Will Receive a Kalorik Rollie Eggmaster of their own! A $29.99 Value!

Make Some Delicious Recipes With Lactose-Free #Lactaid & Giveaway

Disclosure: This sponsored post was written for LACTAID in conjunction with The Motherhood. All opinions provided are my own.

When I was about 8 years old, I came home with a stomach ache almost every day. My parents were at a loss until going to the doctor and finding out I was lactose intolerant. The chocolate milk I had to drink each day with school lunches was a big no no for my stomach and something I had to forgo from them on. Luckily, I've never been much of a milk drinker, but some of my favorite foods are made with milk and those are things I just cannot do without! It just so happens that I not only married someone who is lactose intolerant, but we also have a lactose intolerant son. We, as a family, love to eat and try new dishes, so we don't let this issue stop us at all. After all, I cannot live without my blueberry muffins and pastas, especially pasta with cream sauces!

I had a very informative discussion with Melissa d' Arabian, a celebrity chef and LACTAID Brand Spokesperson along with Michelle Harrington, R.D. and LACTAID Regulatory and Nutritional Affairs Manager all about what it means to be lactose intolerant and what LACTAID can do for those who suffer from it. I learned so much from them and had to share the information with my readers!

What does it mean to be lactose intolerant?
By definition, it means the small intestine does not make enough of an enzyme called lactase and, in order to digest lactose, the body needs this enzyme. Since lactose is in the sugar of milk and other dairy products, these cause adverse effects when ingested. What type of effects? It varies depending on the person and while I can handle small amounts of milk, my son can get very sick to his stomach just by drinking it.

What is LACTAID?
This delicious product provides the delicious creamy taste of dairy without stomach discomfort! LACTAID actually provides the lactase our bodies need to break down lactose! This means LACTAID products are 100% real dairy. The only difference is the added natural yeast-derived lactase enzyme! They have many great lactose-free products, including milks, cottage cheese, ice-cream and eggnog.

LACTAID has provided a freedom of food choices for our family. We are not limited in our daily meal selections because we can use LACTAID products in place of those with lactose. Plus, there are some delicious recipe suggestions on the LACTAID website that I cannot wait to try out. We will be trying out LACTAID all this month and reporting back shortly with more thoughts, information and our favorite recipe we've tried with it. We've already made blueberry muffins with it and, of course, they were a hit. Actually, the boys seemed to like them more than usual because they were gone 2 days later!

In our next post, we will write all about cooking with LACTAID, so check back for the next post. Until then, how about a giveaway?

Giveaway Time

One Lucky Children Teaching Mama Reader Will Receive A Coupon Good For Any One Free LACTAID Product! That includes milk, cottage cheese, ice-cream, eggnog and dietary supplements.

How To Enter

Leave a comment below telling why you would like to win OR a recipe you would like to try out with LACTAID! Be sure to leave your email address, too, so I can get in touch with the winner.

This giveaway is open to US Readers 18+ years of age and older. It ends on Monday, May 27th at 11:59pm. Good Luck!

Healthy Southern Summer Corn Salad Recipe With Delicious Sunshine Sweet Corn #SweetLife

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom CentralConsulting for Sunshine Sweet Corn. I received a gift card to purchase a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

I'm a Southerner through and through, especially when it comes to eating fresh fruits and veggies! When Spring rolls around each year I get so excited because that means the produce will be brighter, fresher and in season. April in Georgia means Strawberry pickin' time. April is also when we plant our corn and tomatoes, which are two must-haves for ever southern kitchen and meal. I love them all, but there is one that stands out much more than others: Sunshine Sweet Corn! No regular corn will do... I want the sweet, crunchy corn that makes your mouth water. These are the reasons Sunshine Sweet Corn stands out in my mind and why I pick it up as soon as it is in season. Nothing is as satisfying as that first bite in the spring, when the corn crunches between your teeth and the sweet taste makes you smile.

Here in the south, we use corn for many different recipes. In fact, last year I wrote about my favorite creamed sweet corn recipe, which just happens to be one of my favorite side dishes of the spring. Okay, I say it is a side dish, but many others, my uncle included, would tell you creamed corn stands on its own!

Enter To Win

Sunshine Sweet Corn is kicking off this Spring season with their "Livin' The Sweet Live" Pinterest contest! How do you enter? You "pin" an image from the Sunshine Sweet Corn contest homepage to your own Pinterest account using the hashtage #Sweetlife. You have a chance to win one of three amazing prize packages, each worth over $200!!

To celebrate this fun contest, we decided to make another one of our favorite side dishes, a Southern Summer Corn Salad! This dish is not only easy to make, but healthy and can be used in other dishes as well!

Southern Summer Corn Salad Recipe (serves 4)

• 3-4 large ears husked Sweet Corn
• 1/3-1/2 Vidalia onion, sliced
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1-2 peeled carrot, sliced
• 4 mushrooms, sliced
• 1 package cherry tomatoes, sliced
• 1 lime
• 1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar (homemade or store bought will do)
• Salt/Pepper to taste

Some prefer to boil/cook corn for this recipe, but I like it raw because it is crunchier and sweeter! If you do decide to cook them, fill up a large pot full of water, bring to a boil before adding the corn on the cob. Once boiling, add the corn for 3-5 minutes. Slice up each of the ingredients except the lime and you will already see a beautiful variety of summer colors on your counter (this is when my mouth already starts to water:

One by one, add the ingredients to your serving dish beginning with corn on the bottom. Then, squeeze lime juice across the top of the mixture. Carefully toss the salad with your hands to spread each of the ingredients around the corn. Lastly, add your vinegar and toss again.

There are, of course, many other variations to this recipe, but I prefer this way since it is healthier. Sometimes we use cucumbers (but the one I bought earlier mysteriously disappeared!?), others use vinaigrette and some use oil with the vinegar. I find this way is just as delicious and makes a great summer side dish.

Have Leftovers? Do not despair! 

This is perfect for sandwiches and wraps! spread hummus onto your wrap, add the summer corn salad and you have a great lunch or mid-afternoon snack. Yummy! This is what we will be eating for for lunch tomorrow.

What is your favorite Sweet Corn recipe? Be sure to let me know in a comment below and don't forget to enter the Sunshine Sweet Corn "Livin' The Sweet Live" Pinterest contest! It ends on May 15th, so don't wait too long.

Produce for Kids & Publix Host the Annual Get Healthy, Give Hope Campaign

Produce for Kids® is launching its annual Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign with 16 major supermarket chains across the United States, including your local Publix stores, to help raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Since I am Mama that spends a great deal of time with my son at the hospital due to his diagnosis of NF, I had to tell you about this wonderful cause!

From now through June 28th, shoppers can support local children's cancer research programs and get healthy all at the same time! Produce is a must-have on any shopping list and, thanks to the annual Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign, the more produce you buy, the more hope they can give to local children!

Also, this year marks the 10th birthday of Produce for Kids and they are so excited to kick off this year's campaign with a new partnership with Sprout and LazyTown^TM! During the campaign, Produce for Kids will also offer shoppers Ideal Meals, which are quick, easy healthy recipes found for free in displays featuring LazyTown® characters! LazyTown^TM is a popular, health-focused cartoon series in the U.S. aired on the Sprout channel. Ideal Meals offers shoppers delicious, easy solutions for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert. Featuring healthy products, such as fresh fruits and veggies, these are great meals for busy families who don't want the unhealthy drive-thru foods!
I was sent several delicious recipe ideas from Ideal Meals, but this one has to be my absolute favorite and something I know my kids will love:

Tasty Hummus Sandwich

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

·   8 slices whole wheat bread

·   4 Tbsp. hummus

·   4 Tbsp. guacamole

·   4 romaine lettuce leaves

·   4 Tbsp. goat cheese

·   2 mini cucumbers, sliced

·   1 medium tomato, sliced

Directions:

1. Toast bread. Spread 1 Tbsp. hummus and guacamole on 1 slice of bread, add 1 romaine lettuce leaf, spread 1 Tbsp. goat cheese, then add cucumber and tomato slices.
2. Top with second slice of bread. 

Nutrition Information:

Tasty Hummus Sandwich Calories 381, Fat 9.7g, Protein 15.1g, Carbohydrate 59.3g, Fiber 9.8g, Cholesterol 6mg, Sodium 452mg, Calcium 122mg, Vitamin A 3187 IU, Vitamin C 15.6mg, Iron 4.3mg

For more recipes like this, go to the Produce for Kids website! Want to know when the campaign is coming to your local grocer? Here's a list of the campaign dates across the U.S.:
·         Meijer: May 27^th – June 23^rd
·         Homeland: May 30^th – June 27^th
·         Publix: May 31^st – June 28^th
·         Kroger Southwest: June 13^th – July 24^th
·         Fred Meyer: June 14^th – July 26^th
·         Price Chopper: June 17^th – July 28^th
·         King Soopers: June 20^th – July 31^st
·         Kroger Central: June 21^st – July 18^th

 What is your favorite quick meal to make for your family? This summer join this great campaign, buy lots of produce to benefit the children AND enjoy some delicious healthy meals with your family!

Southern-Style Creamed Corn with Delicious Sunshine Sweet Corn #MomCentral

One of our staple foods here is Georgia is corn. Nothing is better in the summer than fresh sweet corn on the cob. Some of us, including myself, eat it raw. I love the crunchy sweet taste! We are working with Mom Central and Sunshine Sweet Corn to tell you just how delicious it really is and how many great recipes you can make with it, not just in the summer, but in spring, too!

One of my favorite southern recipes is creamed corn. There is, of course, also corn souffle, corn chowder and even corn salad. All of those are at the top of my list. Not only is sweet corn delicious, but also great for you. It provides fiber and whole grains and is a great way to lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers and more. I didn't even know this until I did some research, but corn also contains antioxidants that help vision and protect eyes.

We looked at all of the great recipes on the Sunshine Sweet Corn site, but decided to cook my favorite corn recipe, creamed corn. This recipe has been passed down from generation to generation. My grandmother taught my mom and then my mom taught me how to make many, many southern dishes.The recipe does not have exact measurements, mind you... In the south, we like to taste our food as we cook it and add in more ingredients if needed.
Before making the creamed corn, you need to know how to cut the corn off the cob! These informational video shows you a great way to do so:

 Here's the recipe:

Southern-Style Creamed Corn

Ingredients:

6 ears of supersweet corn, husked
sugar
salt
milk
butter
water
all-purpose flour
reserved bacon grease

Directions:
After the corn is husked and wiped clean, cut the corn off of the cob with a paring knife into a mixing bowl. Then, use the back of the knife to scrap all of the delicious corn juice out of what is left on the cob.

Mix together: 1 Tablespoon of flour, 1 Tablespoon sugar,  1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Once mixed together with the corn and mix well.

Heat the skillet to medium-high heat and stay close-by. Use about 1-2 Tablespoons of  reserved bacon grease to grease the skillet well before adding the corn. Once it is melted, add the creamed corn mixture.

Turn down the heat to medium-low and continue watching/stirring the mixture. It will become creamier as time goes on. If you have added too much water, the flour will absorb the liquid, so add more. If you find it is too salty for your taste, add a bit more sugar and vice versa.

There is no exact science to making creamed corn. The best way to make it is to use the items you have on hand and taste as you go. You don't need fancy ingredients or anything impressive to make an absolutely delicious dish from corn! That's my southern style creamed corn in the picture above, served with some fresh black pepper. I think that's the best way to eat it. I made it look all pretty with photo editing, but honestly it looks a little plain... until you take a bite. My mouth waters just thinking about it!

What is your favorite way to eat corn? There are so many different ways to eat corn that it really is hard to decide. My husband loves corn chowder! Have a great spring and summer... and don't forget to eat lots and lots of fresh Sunshine Sweet Corn!!!


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Sunshine Sweet Corn. I was reimbursed to purchase Sweet Corn and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Chef Boyardee Fun With Family & Make It Boyardeelicious Recipe Contest

When I think of "home", I think of comfort foods my mom always made for me as a child. It's one of the many reasons I look forward to visiting even today. For quick meals and lunches, my mom often made Mini Beef Ravioli by Chef Boyardee. Not only do I still love it, but now my children do, too.

I am so excited to tell you not only about my Chef Boyardee dinner party, but the Make It Boyardeelicious recipe contest is going on now until March 11th. That gives you 4 more days to think of a creative dish including a Chef Boyardee product. Chef Boyardee fans (like myself) are invited to share their own original recipe for a chance to win $500 AND $75 in Chef Boyardee coupons!!! A winner will be picked weekly and, so there will be 10 finalists. These 10 finalists will go on to a voting period before a Grand Prize Winner is chosen. What's the Grand Prize? A Year's Worth of Groceries (about $5200)!!!  Can you imagine not having to pay for groceries? What a dream! Also, if you vote for your favorite recipe, you will automatically be entered to win $100!

Thanks to Chef Boyardee and Mom Central, I was able to throw a fun family dinner party full of delicious eats and treats. We received an awesome party kit containing a chef's hat, aprons, mixing bowls, Le Creuset Bakeware, recipe cards and coupons! It was such an awesome package to get in the mail! The kids loved all the kid-friendly cookware they received as well as the chef hat and I love Le Creuset and coupons. I took a survey of which Chef Boyardee food the family wanted me to include in a recipe and Beef Ravioli won (Beefaroni was a close second)! 

We had over 8 of our favorite people, so we had a dinner for 12 set up with our version of the Ravioli Lasagna recipe! Here's our recipe:

Cheesy-Goodness Leftover Ravioli Bake

Ingredients

2 Cans of Chef Boyardee Mini Ravioli along with any leftover Ravioli you have from lunch!

2 carrots thinly sliced

1 can Hunt's Italian Diced Tomatoes (drained)

1 cup Mozzarella Cheese

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Add the cans of Chef Boyardee Mini Ravioli to mixing bowl along with carrots and diced tomatoes. 
• In a microwave-safe bowl, cover with wrap and heat mixture in microwave for 3 minutes on high. 
• Slowly mix together with spoon until the carrots and tomatoes are blended in with the ravioli.
• Add the mixture into an 8x8 (or 8x11 depending on how much was left over) glass baking dish.
• Measure 1 cup of Mozzarella and sprinkle evenly across the top of the ravioli mixture. 
• Cover with tin foil and bake for about 12 minutes. 
• Take the tinfoil off and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes or until cheese begins to brown just a bit.
• take out of the oven, let cool a few minutes and enjoy!

Let me just say that the smell coming from the oven was making it hard to wait for dinner! While waiting we used one of the mixing bowls we received and a plate for chicken-bite appetizers. As for the recipe, I got this idea from my mom's Baked Spaghetti Recipe using leftover spaghetti, so you could also use this with the Chef Boyardee Spaghetti and Meatballs (my son's favorite). We ate dinner with a delicious salad for a well-balanced meal. 

I love having family gatherings, but when we can do something memorable like this for the kids, it's even more fun. I know this is bad, but I don't even have a picture of the delicious Ravioli Bake! I totally forgot to take a picture and it was gone before I had a chance. It was really that good. So, give it a try.

Okay, now that you've read my inspiring post, aren't you ready to enter your own innovative and delicious Chef Boyardee Recipe into the contest? Again, the Make It Boyardeelicious Recipe Contest ends on March 11th, so get over to the Chef Boyardee Facebook page and enter today. 

I wrote this review while participating in a In Home Party campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Chef Boyardee and received product samples to facilitate my party and review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Cuisinart's Annual Halloween Halloween Recipe Swap

I wanted to make a quick announcement about a fun event that takes place today! Cuisinart’s Annual Halloween Recipe Swap is being held TODAY from 11am – 5pm. All participants will be automatically entered to win a 12-Cup Elite Food Processor, Single Serve Brewing System and Blend and Cook Soup Maker!

How do you participate? 

Click here to check it out. All you have to do is enter a recipe into the swap, and when you do, you will be emailed a new recipe, submitted by a "costumed" Cuisinart Swapper.  Another Cuisinart.com user will receive your recipe via email. There is no limit to the number you can send.  So let’s cover Halloween from breakfast through dessert. If you have any questions, or need anything from me, please do not hesitate to reach out.

How fun is that? I'm going to submit my own recipe for Veggie Lasagna! Yummy!

Spookamole Blog Tour - Warts & All Witch Recipe

Halloween is our very favorite part of the season. We get our costumes, decorate our yard and home, and invite our friends and family over for a fun Halloween party. This year we are already putting out our decorations and the kids seem more excited than ever. We've even begun trying different recipes and, boy do I have a great idea for this party!

I took into account that all of our family members love vegetables and fruits and we especially love tomatoes and avocados from Mexico. Even our 2 year old loves guacamole! I decided avocados from Mexico would be the perfect healthy addition to our Halloween party snack table, but how could I make it a little different... and themed? So, with a little help from the kiddos, we created the perfect veggie and guacamole witch! Without further ado, here's my recipe for Warts and All!

Warts & All Witch

Ingredients

• 2 avocados from Mexico
• 1/4 onion chopped
• lemon
• 1-2 tomatoes
• salt/pepper
• 1 squash
• 1 clove garlic
• a stir-fry pack including:
• carrots
• cucumbers
• sprouts
• snap peas
• Tortilla chips

In a medium mixing bowl, mix together avocados, chopped onions and minced garlic. Mix together, squish with a fork until mushy! Then, add in salt and ground pepper to taste along with about 5-10 drops of lemon juice. 

Make sure you have a big platter to arrange all of your "witchy" ingredients. Have a great time with the kids creating your very own Spookamole Witch, Warts & All! The carrots make great hair, cucumbers and cucumber skins are perfect for the hat, tomatoes are perfect for eyes, and the Lemon/Squash are great for a moon. There is no correct way to arrange your witch! Just have fun and she'll look gorgeous! Lastly, put your tortilla chips in a bowl or arrange at the bottom of your platter.

All of your veggies will taste delicious dipped in the guacamole and so will the chips! This will be great for a Halloween party this year. Surround your work of art with all your spooky decorations, plates, cups, etc. Your guests will not only enjoy your delicious treats, but will love your Mexican Avocado Warts & All Witch!

Enter Your Own Spookamole Recipe!!

Have an amazingly spooky guacamole recipe you'd love to share? Enter the Avocados from Mexico Spookamole Recipe Contest and you could win up to $1,000!!  Submit your recipe to the official contest page by clicking here.  Good luck!

I wrote this review while participating in a Spookamole blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Avocados from Mexico and received avocado items to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Summer Block Party #3: Ziplock Outdoor Living W/ Robin Miller's Recipes & Tips Review & Giveaway

One of my favorite things about summer is that we spend much more time outside. We invite friends over, sit on our deck, and, my favorite, we grill out! Ziploc Brand has partnered with Robin Miller from the Food Network to help families get the most out of their fun cookout festivities and save money and resources, too. That's right up my alley, for sure!

Miller has some great ideas and tips to make your cookout easy, hassle-free, and delicious that I'd like to share with you guys. Here are some of my favorite tips:

• Marinate It- We all know to marinate our chicken and steaks to make the meat tasty and juicy. Instead of using bowls, plates, and other items that mean additional clean-up, use Ziploc^® Brand Freezer Bags to marinate chicken, pork, beef, and fish! Remember, meat and poultry can marinate for up to 24 hrs. When you are ready to grill, just take the bags straight out of the fridge and to the grill to prepare your delicious dinner! Yummy!
•  Dip It- Get creative with your cooking! Make dipping stations so guests can put their own personal twist on grilled favorites! For instance, make unique dips and serve them with grilled staples like fish, veggies or meat! (If you try out the Beef Kebab recipe by Miller below, be sure to make the dips to go along with it. Guests will love trying something new. You can also make the kebabs with chichen, shrimp, or portobello mushrooms!)
•  Prep It, Store It, Take It- Go ahead and prepare your side dishes and desserts ahead of time. You can seal in the freshness in Ziploc^® Brand Containers with the Smart Snap™ Seal, which can go from fridge to cooler to the party easily! Serve some savory sides like Miller's Spiral Pasta W/ Pesto, Sundried Tomatoes & Pine Nuts or other favorites like homemade dips served with chips and pita wedges. 
•  Pack It- To save some money when out and about, pack a picnic for the family instead of purchasing expensive meals. We all know how expensive theme-park meals can be and this is a great way to pinch some pennies! Store your tableware and spoons in Ziploc^® Brand Slider Storage and Freezer Bags with the Smart Zip™ Seal. You can even pack up some pre-moistened paper towels in the Ziploc^® Brand Freezer Bags for spills and clean-up. When the picnic is over, put all the tableware back in the bags, take them home and wash.

Here are some of Robin Miller's Recipe suggestions:
Spiral Pasta with Pesto, Sundried Tomatoes and Pine Nuts – A delicious, yet healthy snack and side dish!
Beef Kebabs with Three Dips –Chipotle-Lime Mayo, Wasabi Soy Sauce, & Roasted Red Pepper Dips to make your dip station!Creative and fun for your cookout.
There are more great recipes and more tips on the Ziploc website to keep you entertaining and on a budget.

My Thoughts

I am a huge Ziploc addict and always stock up on these bags. You may ask why, especially since I am all about natural living, right? Well, these are reusable. I wash mine over and over in the dishwasher to clean and sanitize after use. They last quite a while and are great for just about anything. I pack snacks for the kids, store leftovers, and have frozen the fruits and veggies from our garden!

Ziploc can help make your cookouts and entertaining a cinch to stay on budget and make some delicious treats for you and your guests. So, ready to win some great Ziploc products for your summer entertaining?

Win It

One Children Teaching Mama reader will win a Ziploc Prize Pack, including a variety of Ziploc Freezer, Storage, and Slider Bags!

**Remember to include your email address if it is NOT visible in your profile so I will know how to contact you! The initial entry is mandatory! Be sure to answer that question before earning extra entries listed below! Each bullet is worth one extra entry unless specified. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry you earn and include your email address is at least one entry.

How To Enter

Leave A Comment Below Telling Us Your Favorite Cooking Tip (can be anything cooking related!)

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Plenty of opportunities to increase your chance of winning! This Giveaway is open to US Residents and Ends June 8th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn by random.org. An announcement will be made on the blog and the winner will also be contacted by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

Carrabba's Pasta Personality Quiz & Delicious Dishes

I just took the Carrabba's Pasta Personality Quiz on Facebook and the results said my personality is "Spaghetti". Sometimes I feel like my brain is full of spaghetti, that's for sure!! Spaghetti is a classic and something I know the kids will enjoy every time I make it, especially with meatballs. I'm not sure I have a "warm and comforting personality", but we sure are a spaghetti eating family! What's your Carrabba's Pasta Personality? Take the quiz and comment below to tell me what the quiz results were. I'd love to hear about all of the answers.

 Do you like Italian food? We sure do and we eat it at least once a week. With the current economy, we, of course, can't afford to go out to eat every single time, but it's been fun for us to come up with some new and exciting recipes. We each have our favorites, but there is one simple dish that always satisfies dinner guests and kids alike. It's my Veggie & Shrimp With A Garlic White Wine Sauce Over Linguini. I used to work at an Italian restaurant in college and, since then, I've loved to experiment with different recipes. I've been making this one for years and my husband always suggests I make it for dinner parties. It never fails. Plus, it's very easy to make! Here's my recipe:

Veggies & Shrimp With A Garlic White Wine Sauce Over Linguini

-1.5-2lbs shrimp
-3-4 garlic cloves (crushed)

-2 TBSP EVOO
-1 onion
-1/2 cup white wine
-Butter (I like using a lot because this makes the sauce delicious and creamy!Try about 5oz or so depending on how much sauce you like)
-cooked linguini
-baby spinach leaves (1-2 handfuls)
-diced tomatoes
-mushrooms (optional, though they taste great in the sauce)
-Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper
-Lemon Juice (optional- I just think it goes well with the recipe)

Directions

-Heat olive oil in a pan (saute pan or a wok works really well) and add onions, garlic, and mushrooms. Saute until the onions start turning golden.
-Add shrimp and cook 1-2 minutes until done (don't cook too long or they'll turn rubbery)
-Add butter, white wine and a squeeze of lemon juice
-Add baby spinach leaves and tomatoes (1-2 minutes)
-Add Salt & Pepper to taste

Once the linguini is cooked, throw it into the pan with all the other ingredients to saute everything together and saturate it in the sauce! Then you are ready to serve! It looks especially nice with a few sliced roma tomatoes and a basil leaf on top.
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You should give this a try. I'm actually making it tonight and have all of my ingredients ready. No mushrooms for my boys, though, so that can be left out. This recipe works well with chicken, too!


What is your favorite Italian food recipe? What do you most often cook for your family? It's amazing how a great Italian dinner can really make everyone feel at home. That's why I love serving Italian food at my dinner parties. Paired with a nice wine, everyone could sit around the table and talk for hours, enjoying great food and conversation. Just writing this makes me want to throw a dinner party again very soon!

Want to get out of the house and enjoy some delicious Italian food with your family? Carrabba's has some great dishes starting at only $10! Everything is fresh to order, too, so you really can't beat that! Here are some of their new limited time pastas, dishes, and a wine:


Featured Signature Pasta Meal:
Pasto Rambo – Named for the chef who created it, it’s made with shrimp tossed with imported Italian linguine, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes sautéed in our basil lemon butter sauce. Lobster is available instead of shrimp for an additional cost.

Other Limited Time Offers:
Parmesan-crusted Chicken – Topped with fresh arugula and grape tomatoes tossed in a hand-prepared lemon vinaigrette, served with choice of side. Substitution of wood-grilled chicken also available. Pairs well with Estancia Pinot Grigio.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin – Three pork tenderloin medallions wrapped with prosciutto, wood-grilled and topped with an apple and fig infused port wine sauce, served with the vegetable of the day. Pairs well with Coppola Pinot Noir.

Limoncello Bread Pudding – Back by popular demand! Brioche bread pudding made with fresh Madagascar vanilla beans and a rich custard, served hot out of the oven. Topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and drizzled with Carrabba’s homemade Caravella Limoncello liqueur sauce.

Now Introducing:
Peach Sangria – Carrabba’s new light and fruity Peach Sangria blends Copper Ridge White Zinfandel, Absolut Apeach vodka and Patrón Citrónge with a splash of citrus. Topped with a fresh lemon wedge and strawberry, it’s a taste of the Amalfi Coast in spring.


Ready to visit Carrabba's? I know I am. Find a location nearest you at www.carrabbas.com! There are more than 230 locations nationwide.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Carrabba’s blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.