Freebie: SeaPak Recipe Book

Are you part of a family that enjoys seafood? Perhaps you are stuck for ideas on easy and affordable ways to prepare it for your family? Well, SeaPak is currently offering a FREE recipe book here. It is filled with helpful tips, 15 recipes you can prepare for under $10 a meal, along with great articles to enjoy!!

Not sure how long they will last....says quanities are limited. You should receive your free recipe book in about 3-4 weeks.

Freebie: Muellers Pasta Meal Planner....

Have pasta eaters in your family? Well, Muellers Pasta is giving out a Free handy 12-month, weekly meal planner packed with over 60 yummy meal ideas. All you have to do is enter your mailing info and answer a few questions here.

This is a freebie for select states only....you can check to see if your state is included by checking the drop down menu.

Pull Out The Crock Pot....12 Yummy Recipes

Not sure what to make for dinner tonight....well, pull out the crock pot! Here are 12 FREE crock pot recipes from Martha Stewart that will give you plenty of ideas!!

This is one great perk of the winter....crockpotting!! It's easy, the food is always delicious, and it's fast clean-up!!

Hurry!!! Jennie-O Turkey $5 Coupon!!!

Quick...be one of the first 25,000 people to sign up here for a FREE printed version of Savor Flavor recipe book complete with a $5 coupon for Jennie-O Turkey Store products!

This one is thanks to The Biggest Loser!!

Good Luck!!

Not one of the first 25,000 people to sign up...a FREE downloadable recipe book is available here....no coupon though in this version!!

What If You Could Make It At Home??

Have you ever gone to a restaurant or eatery and ate something that you just fell in love with. And then you thought to yourself...I just wish I could make this dish at home to get to enjoy it more frequently. Well here are a few recipes from The Olive Garden and Panera Bread so you can do just that....enjoy the great taste in the comfort of your own home!!

Panera Recipes choose from Breakfast items, their famous breads, several sandwiches, soups, desserts, and more!!

Olive Garden Recipes featuring Stuffed Chicken Siena , Pizza Rustica, Appetizers, Main Dishes, Drinks, and more!!

Now, all I have to ask you can I come by for a taste?? lol lol

The Best Baked French Toast Ever!!

I had this very tasty french toast while attending a playgroup breakfast. One of the other mother's made it and let me tell you it was delicious!! I just had to have the recipe to make it myself!! The great thing about the recipe is that you can make it the night before you plan on eating it!! It's also very easy to make.......trust me if I made it and it tastes good anyone can make it...LOL LOL
Just in case your planning a nice breakfast in the near future.....or if you'd like to try it out on "Breakfast 4 Dinner" night here's the recipe!!


You Will Need:

-1/2 cup Butter
-2 Tablespoons of Corn Syrup
-1 cup Brown Sugar (Packed)
-1 loaf of French or Challah Bread (Sliced)
-5 Eggs
-1 teaspoon Vanilla
-1/4 teaspoon of Salt
-1 1/2 cup of Milk

First combine butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup in a small pan and simmer until the sugar melts. Then pour this mixture on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish (I used clear glass).Then lay the bread slice by slice over the sugar mixture in the baking dish.




Next in a small bowl beat together the milk, vanilla, egg, and salt. After all mixed pour this over the bread. Cover with Aluminium foil then place in fridge overnight.



When ready to bake next morning preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake 45 minutes. Serve while still hot for best taste. We also served it with fresh fruit on the side...deliciuos!!


It was such a big hit at Breakfast the next morning....that they dug right into it before I could snap a picture of the finished French Toast!! LOL LOL

Betty Crocker Coupons....

How does new 30 minute dinner meal ideas delivered straight to your inbox each week sound? Pretty good right?? I know for me sometimes the hardest part of making dinner is deciding what to have!! LOL Well, Betty Crocker would like to help you make dinner a little easier. Sign up for the Free Dinner Made Easy email newsletter here.......and just for signing up they would like to send you $10 in coupons!!

Hurry.....offer ends 11/30 and coupon booklets are limited!!

Recipe Disasters....

Do you ever have any of these....I am hoping I am not alone!! LOL LOL Did you ever get so excited that you found a new recipe in a book or magazine and the picture looked so delicious...you just had to make it? Well, I have to tell you this happens to me quite a bit!! I am always up for trying a new recipe out...something new to add to the dinner rotation is always a good thing!!

So a few weeks ago I received the new Kraft magazine in the mail and while browsing through I saw 2 dinner meals that looked like they would be easy and yummy to try. The first one I tried was the Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing. It looked very good in the picture...as it did when I took the one I made out of the oven....the problem was in the flavor....or lack there of. It was lacking flavor....and let me tell you baked pork chops are not very tasty...and are a bit chewy as well!! I was a bit bummed.....and we ended up eating grilled cheese for dinner that night.

A few night later...I tried another first-time for me recipe. This time it was the Chicken Bruschetta Bake......also from the Kraft magazine. The entree' also looked very good when I took it out of the oven as in the picture in the magazine...the problem here was it was very dry!!!! Like the recipe was missing some sauce or something, needed a bit of moisture. Once again for dinner that night we ate egg sandwiches. Another recipe trial that was a bust!!

This was the Bruchetts Bake going into the oven.

I do love to try new recipes...but do you ever feel like you are not only wasting your ingredients, but also your time and energy?? I guess how would I know it would not be good unless I tried, right?? I always make sure to read the reviews....but that is even difficult to go by...as people give the recipe a4.5 stars and took out a few ingredients and added in a few others to alter the recipe........One lesson I did learn for these two recipes disasters...was that I will not cook with stuffing unless it is part of Thanksgiving dinner ever again!! LOL LOL

Bruschetta with Fruit???

A little over a week ago I had a nice brunch for my Mom's Birthday along with several family members. I was looking for a new recipe with fruit in it to use as an appetizer....so I did a little online recipe searching. I came across this recipe on All Recipes for Sweet Summer Fruit Bruschetta. It sounded so delicious....I just had to give it a try!! Since the brunch I have had sereral phone calls from family members requesting I email them the recipe. It was very easy to make...and from the feedback from my family, hubby and I were not the only ones to fall in love with the recipe!! So in case you too are looking for a great addition to your summer brunch, or even an afternoon snack for the family....give it a try!! Trust me you will be asked for this recipe again and again!!

Sweet Summer Fruit Bruschetta

Ingredients:

24 1/4-inch baguette slices
1/4 cup butter, softened
6 tablespoons brown sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped peaches and/or nectarines
1/2 cup chopped plums
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped glazed walnuts


Lay the baguette slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Stir together the butter, 4 tablespoons brown sugar and cinnamon and spread on one side of each baguette slice. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes or until bubbly and bread is lightly browned on the edges. Stir together the remaining brown sugar, fruit and lime juice in a small bowl. Spoon equal amounts over the bread slices and sprinkle with walnuts.

*I added a bit more fruit to my recipe....I used 1 cup of each fruit!!

One Easy Yummy Meal.....

I had received the Summer edition of the Kraft Food & Family Magazine a while back....and I took a look through it and off to the cabinet it has been sitting. So yesterday, while cleaning out the kitchen cabinet I came across it again. I was flipping through and decided to give the Santa Fe Chicken Salad Wraps a try for dinner.

They are amazingly easy to make and the are just as delicious to the taste!! We loved them!! And the ingredients you need to prepare them you probably already have on hand. Next time you are in a bind on what to make for a quick, easy meal...give them a try!!

Here is what you will need (This fed our family of 4):

*1/2 head of Romaine Lettuce

* 2 large Boneless Chicken Breast (Grilled or baked and cut into strips)

*1 medium tomato chopped

*1 can whole kernel corn (11 oz.)

*1 cup Cheddar Shredded Cheese or Taco Mix

*1/2 cup Ranch Dressing

*1/2 cup Salsa

*6 Flour Tortillas (Medium sized)

Toss in a large bowl....Romaine, Chicken,tomatoes, and corn. Then add cheese.

Next in separate bowl combine dressing and salsa. Pour over Romaine mixture and toss to coat. Spoon evenly onto tortillas. Roll-Up and Enjoy!!!

Too Hot 2 Cook Recipe.....

Well....it's still stinkin' hot around our way.....so here is another great recipe to keep your time cooking in the kitchen brief in the heat!! Thanks to South Jersey Mom Bloggers once again for the weekly recipe fun!! This one is a summer favorite in our house!!

Easy Taco Salad

1 pound of ground beef
2 handfuls of tortilla chips (broken up a bit)
3/4 of a packet of Taco Seasoning Mix
3/4 of a head of romaine lettuce (Make sure to rinse, dry and shredded)
4 Plum tomatoes (diced)

1 1/2 cups Taco Blend Cheese Mix
1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup Thick N Chunky Salsa (medium or hot)

3/4 can Kidney Beans (rinsed and drained)

8 oz. Bottle of Dressing (Can be Ranch, French, Catalina..whatever you prefer)

8 oz. container of Sour Cream

Cook beef over medium heat in skillet , until brown. Drain. Add 3/4 of the packet of Taco Seasoning Mix and water as per packet instructions. (I do not use whole packet as then I think it tastes over-seasoneds)

Next place the following into a large mixing bowl....... tomatoes, onion, cheese, beans, beef, salsa, and dressing. Mix well using a large pair of tongs.

Serve lettuce on plates...then add some of mixed ingredients from bowl...then top with cheese, tortilla chips, and a dallop of sour cream. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!!

Too Hot 2 Cook.....#3

Ahh...it's that time once again...for the weekly Too Hot 2 Cook Recipe of the week.....brought to you by SJ Mom Bloggers. This week, since the 4th is tomorrow, and I am sure you will be throwing or attending a BBQ this long weekend....so why not a Pasta Salad Recipe??? This is my sister-in-laws famous pasta salad recipe....it is delicious!!!

Picture courtesy of ace-clipart.com
Here's what you need to get started......


Fresh Vegetables
Broccoli
Cucumber
Black olives (sliced)
Tomatoes (diced)
Green and red peppers
Red Onions (if you like onions)
Carrots
Pasta- 1 lb. box Rotini
Salad Supreme Seasoning by McCormick's
Bottle a Wish-Bone Italian Dressing


Cook the pasta according to the directions, make sure not to overcook. Cut up vegetables to bite sizes. Mix together pasta and vegetables, add 4tbsp of Salad supreme seasoning with about 8oz of Italian dressing. Mix well and taste......add more salad supreme seasoning if needed and Italian Dressing. It taste better if you make it the night before and let sit overnight in the fridge.

Enjoy!!

Yummy!! And Only 5 Ingredients!!!

It's summer, it's hot....So why not make an easy meal for dinner tonight? Here is a great, fast, easy summer recipe that you have to try!! We love them!!

Grilled Chicken Quesadillas

You will need:

*1 lb. Boneless Chicken Breasts

*6 Flour Tortillas (We use 8 inch)

*1 cup Salsa (We use medium)

*1 1/2 cups Shredded Cheddar or Taco Blend Cheese

*1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1. Clean and rinse chicken breasts then grill. Once finished cooking....slice breasts into thin slices.

2. Next in a small bowl mix together salsa and chili powder. Then spread a thin layer onto 1/2 of each tortilla.

3. Next top the same half of tortilla with chicken slices and some shredded cheese.

4. Fold tortilla in half then place in a large skillet. You may want to spray a little non-stick spray in the pan first to prevent sticking. Cook on each side until tortilla is slightly brown and cheese is melted.

5. Cut each folded quesadilla using a pizza cutter into three pieces. If you like serve with a side of sour cream with a sprinkling of fresh diced tomatoes on top. Yummy!!

Enjoy!!

Lots more 5-or less ingredient recipes at Rocks In My Dryer..be sure to check them out!!

Sour Cream Overload.....

I stocked up on Sour Cream right around Memorial Day...to use for a few dips to take to some picnics we were attending...and I have two left that are about to expire on July 2nd (Guess I over bought a bit , ya think?) !!! So....I need to use them before they go bad....so I did a little Sour Cream recipe searching. Look what I found...Yummy!!!

Chicken Nacho Bake...I will be making this tonight....as I have all the ingredients for it already!!!

Sour Cream Topped-Cheese Cake.....I have had this before and it is delicious!!!

Banana Sour Cream Bread....I will be sure to make this one just for hubby...as Banana Bread hos his ultimate fav!!!

Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes...I will be sure to try this one in the winter months...the sour cream would probably make the potatoes so moist and creamy!!

Man....and I narrowed the list down to 4...there are so many yummy looking recipes that use sour cream....I am amazed!! Maybe I should start looking online for recipes more often!!

Now it's your turn....do you have a great recipe that sour cream is a part of?? I'd love to know!

Too Hot 2 Cook Thursday.....

It's been so nice and cool the past two days around here...but not today!!! So here it is week 2 already of the Too Hot 2 Cook Recipe Series!! This week is a simple, yet yummy one!! Oh and make sure and stop by Meghan's blog to check out her recipe as well!! Enjoy!



Chicken Caesar Wraps (This feeds our family of 2 adults and 2 kiddies)

- 1 lb. of Grilled Boneless Chicken Breasts (or if you want to make it easier, I suppose you can buy a package of the pre-cooked strips??)
- 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup Caesar Dressing (depending on the flavor you like)
-4- 10-inch Tortilla Wraps (Whole Wheat is yummy!)
-1- head of Romaine Lettuce, washed.
-1- cup of Croutons
-Few Sprinkles of Black Pepper
-2 Tsp. Parmesan Cheese (grated)



1. Just grill the chicken....then refrigerate for about 30 minutes to cool it off. (Could refriderate longer if you'd like to prpare is the night before.)

2. While chicken is cooling cut up the lettuce in small peices then place in large bowl. Next add in the dressing, croutons, and cheese. Then take chicken out of fridge and cut up in small pieces. Add to bowl. Mix well with tongs.

3. Then warm up tortillas (in microwave for about 30 seconds each, or in oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes)

4. Next stuff the tortilla with the Caesar salad mixture. Sprinkle a little pepper to taste. Wrap up folding in the two sides in first then roll up and enjoy!!!


For a great side item we usually eat with sliced strawberries or carrot sticks!!

We eat these at least once every 2 weeks in the summer...as they are so, so easy to make and the whole family just loves them!!

Too Hot To Cook Easy Summer Recipe....

Well summer is here...Yeah!! And I am sure like me...it's so stinkin' hot who really feels like cooking an elaborate meal for dinner?? Take-out always sounds good...but why not try and make a fast, quick, easy, yummy meal yourself!! Who really feels like eating heavy food at 99 degree temperatures?? Well, for the summer months through Labor Day every Thursday ...I am going to post a "Too Hot To Cook Recipe". Thanks to the new bloggers group I have joined SJ Bloggers for the topic.

Here you go....week # brings BBQ Kabobs....one of our family favorites!! The best part is that each person can make their own kabob with whatever they like on it. That is how we do it to be sure the kiddies will eat them and enjoy them just as much as hubby and I!!



Ingredients

-1 lb. Boneless Chicken Breasts or Beef Cubes...or a little of both!
-1 can Pineapples
-1 large Red Onion
-1 Red or Green Pepper
-1 can of Pineapple Chunks
-1 Pint Grape Tomatoes
-Baby Red Potatoes
-Some BBQ Sauce

Simply take a Skewer and stick on alternating ingredients to form colorful kabobs. Make sure the pineapple is next to the meat...as it makes the meat tender while cooking!

Then with a brush spread some BBQ sauce all over the filled skewers...both sides (Sweet Baby Ray's is the Best!)

Place them on the grill for about 10-15 minutes on medium heat turning frequently. You can also smear on more BBQ while cooking if you like as well.

We love to eat Kabobs with an ear of corn or a Ceasar or Side Salad.

Enjoy!!


Do you have a quick, easy summer meal that you prepare for your family too in the hot summer months? I can never have too many meal ideas!!!

How We Eat Dinner On a Budget...

Dinnertime....I think the worst part of it is trying to figure out what to make...Would you agree?? Now, more than ever the cost off dinner is also starting to be on consumers minds as well. As the grocery prices keep soaring, unfortunately we still have to keep eating!! But, that does not mean we cannot be thrifty about eating yummy dinners every night of the week.

My mother taught me many years ago...to plan your weekly dinner meals around what is on sale at the grocery store for that week. For example, this week ShopRite has all Tyson Poultry for 40% off....so this week we will eat chicken a few nights, to take advantage of the sale. The other nights we will eat meat out of the freezer that we stocked up on in the past few weeks when it was on sale. I know you are thinking...But how can you eat so much chicken??

Very easily...first off we are a chicken lovin' family...LOL LOL Secondly, there is a trick to my madness.....all I do is go onto All Recipes, type in the ingredients I wish to use, and up pops a list of recipe ideas to make. This week ShopRite has a few great items on sale like Sour Cream, Sargento Shredded Cheeses, Cream Cheese, Baby Carrots, Grapes, Francesco Rinaldi Pasta Sauce, etc....all great ingredients to work with. I just pick a few items I have in the house, make a run to Produce Junction, or pick up a few of the sale items when I run to the store to make great dinners for a bit less.

Not to mention the variety of different meals you and your family get to try!! Plus with the ratings on All Recipes...you can get a better idea of the likes and dislikes of the dish.

My Improvising Turned Out Great!!!

Well, last night while making dinner my son asked if we could have Mac & Cheese as a side. I had already had the menu planned, and Mac & Cheese was not on it...but he asked so darn politely...I just could not say "No"! The small problem was that I did not have any Mac & Cheese on hand....so what to do?

I decided to give it a shot with what I had on hand. I got out the box of Elbow Macaroni and boiled them, drained them, and then transferred the Macaroni into a bowl and added a few pieces of sliced deli White American Cheese to the bowl. I mixed the cheese slices and macaroni for a few seconds until melted. Then put a spoonful on my Little Man's plate...and guess what he said "This new Mac & Cheese is great Mom!!" Hubby then took a taste, as did myself...and he was right on!! It did taste great! Plus, unlike the pre-package Mac & Cheese it did not taste like pure sodium!!

So my improvising which I thought may backfire...turned out very well!! In fact I think I may serve it again next week....as it was so easy and very yummy!!

A Great Sidedish

Roasted Red Potatoes with Bacon & Cheese

I love to cook especially when I make something and it turns out really good. Although I must admit at least half the recipes I try, I don't end up liking. So here is a great potato recipe I came across in my Kraft food magazine. You can pair this with a green salad and barbecued chicken and dinner is done. You can sign up for this magazine for free, click here.

I did make a few changes to this recipe, for example they tell you to use Oscar Meyer bacon bits but I prefer using real crumbled bacon or even the precooked bacon. Enjoy!!

Makes: 8 servings, 2/3 cup each

You Will Need:
1/2 cup KRAFT Ranch Dressing
1/2 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup cook and crumbled bacon (if you are short on time you can use the precooked bacon sold in the deli section of most grocery stores
2 lb. small red potatoes, quartered
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley (dried parsley will also work)

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Mix dressing, cheese and bacon in large bowl. Add potatoes; toss lightly.

SPOON into lightly greased 13x9-inch baking dish; cover with foil.

BAKE 40 min. Remove foil; bake an additional 15 min. or until potatoes are tender. Sprinkle with parsley.

Yummy Cannoli Dip Recipe....

I just love Cannoli's..but man are they expensive or what?? An old co-worker knew I loved Cannoli's and had a great alternative easy recipe to satisfy my cravings now and then. I have made it a couple of times to take to parties/dinners over the past few years...and it was always a big hit. If you like Cannoli's you should give it a try.......

Cannoli Dip

1 stick of Butter (softened)
1 package (8 oz.) Cream Cheese (softened)
3/4 of a cup Confectioners Sugar
1 cup Mini Chocolate Chips
1 Box of Cinnamon Graham Cracker sticks (Nabisco)

Mix together butter, cream cheese and sugar......then stir in chocolate chips by hand. Serve with mini graham sticks for dipping.

Enjoy!!