Food — Page 10

Holiday Memories & Food: Save Big on Restaurant Gift Cards Now

Think about your favorite holiday memories… Most of them revolve around food, right? Big holiday dinners, birthday nights out, an anniversary event with food and drinks at your favorite restaurant. Family and food are what the holidays and celebrating are all about. For us – we do a combination of in-home and out and about… For the major holidays, we always do a big dinner at my house – Thanksgiving and Christmas we have around 50 people over here! I love having a way to give something special to all of my favorite peeps as a big ol’ special thank you each year. And it’s so much fun to see everyone in one place together – celebrating. We also love going out to eat, for breakfast. It’s awesome, in a different way – because I get to actually just sit and enjoy everyone during those times – without worrying about cooking and cleaning up!

Need a last minute gift idea? Restaurant cards are a perfect pick!

So, when it comes to last minute Christmas gifts, restaurant gift cards are my fave pick! Whether they use them right away, for a great start to the new year – or wait and save them for a special birthday or anniversary – everyone makes special memories when getting together for a night out. And a really smart gift card idea is a Darden gift card – which are good as some of your favorite spots!

Olive Garden is a must stop for all Italian food lovers – and has some amazing deals right now on lunch specials, as well as some super delicious limited-time dinner options. And who can resist that unlimited salad and bread sticks with every order??

We don’t have a LongHorn Steakhouse here in town – but boyohboy, when we find when while traveling, we always stop to visit!! Steak is pretty much Mike’s favorite food – and Longhorn gets it right, every time. {Plus, unlike some steakhouses, they have great options for non-steak lovers like myself, too.} And visit their site today to enter to win steaks for a year!

Red Lobster is another HUGE fave of Mike’s – I don’t eat anything out of the ocean, and he would eat it all, in a big bowl smothered in butter, lol. But I love the atmosphere, and we go here often for big occasions to celebrate.

All of these restaurants are included in a Darden Gift Card!!!

Buy one card, and it works at ANY of these restaurants. And – what’s even cooler right now – For every $25 you spend on a card for Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, or Red Lobster – you get a bonus $5 bucks. Spend $50 – get a $60 card. Spend $100, get an extra $20 on top of that!! That is a pretty sweet bonus. If you give it as a gift, it gives you an extra bit of generosity to your gift, totally free. If you were already planning a big meal out with the family, why not plan it for one of these restaurants? Then you can buy the gift card now, and make your budget go further. Good times, good people – and good food!

Get your Darden Gift Card today – and take advantage of this sweet bonus deal today!!

{Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Darden. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 24, 2012 Filed Under: Food | No Comments

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Bread Recipe

Mmmmm…. How I do love me some holiday carbs! … It’s true, a low-carb diet would never work for me. Breads, muffins, cakes, and their friends are some of my very favorite things. And there’s not much that’s yummier at the holidays than a good cinnamon streusel type dessert, right?

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Bread Recipe

This recipe is SO perfect for holiday entertaining or gift giving – it’s super moist and delicious, and pairs perfectly with a mug of dark hot cocoa. Snuggle in with a good family movie, a warm cozy blanket, and enjoy! Or, if you’re in need of some homemade gift ideas, use these adorable holiday themed pans from Handi-Foil to present loaves of this yummy coffee cake bread as gifts! {Want to win your own set of a TON of holiday themed pans?} And, the recipe is super simple to make, using basic essentials you probably already have on hand. And if you want to see the Homemade Shake & Bake Chicken recipe that I made to go along with this Cinnamon Streusal bread for a totally simple – yet super delicious – dinnertime solution, check it out and watch the video in the post. Enjoy – and Happy Holidays!

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Bread Recipe

Ingredients

For the Streusal:
1/3 cup Bisquick mix
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup firm butter or margarine
For the Coffee Cake:
1 3/4 cup Bisquick mix
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2/3 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs

Instructions

First things first - Heat your oven to 350°F.
While your waiting, spray a loaf pan with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix 1/3 cup Bisquick mix,the brown sugar and the cinnamon.
Next, cut in the butter using a pastry blender or fork, until mixture is crumbly. Set aside until needed.
In a medium bowl, stir all of the coffee cake ingredients from the list until all blended. Then spread the mix into the pan, and sprinkle with topping.
Bake it up for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Store tightly covered, to make sure it's still totally delicious in a day or two.

https://sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/12/cinnamon-streusel-coffee-cake-bread-recipe/

Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 19, 2012 Filed Under: Food | 15 Comments

Real Kitchen Tips for Real Busy Moms

“Approach love and cooking with equal abandon.” – The Dalai Lama… Ok, it’s confession time – I’m not an awesome cook. Yep, I said it. As a mom, I feel like I should be more talented at this dinnertime stuff. But, while I may not have mad-kitchen skills, I do have enthusiasm and creativity. And those do count for something, right? Well, since I’m not a super chef – just a real mom, with a real busy life, who needs to get meals done real quick – I need a few secret weapons to help me out. I’m going to share a couple of them with you guys today, since I’m all about helping other moms get through the day a little bit easier too….

Happiness is Homemade…

So, while I may not be whipping up gourmet meals {but I do get some super awesome simple kitchen tips each week from Whisked Foodie} – Baking is still kind of my thing. I love finding new inspiration on Pinterest to create super fun goodies, especially at the holidays. {Watch this week for a BOATLOAD of cool stuff to be posted on the site. Super excited. And, get this recipe for the Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Bread here.} Here are a couple of other things that I totally love – year ’round, but even more so at the holidays… I love giving homemade gifts to friends and family. And I love a fun way to present those gifts. {Have you seen my Homemade Gifts Rock board?} And, a trick that I rely on to help me along with both of those, as well as ensure that I have very little to clean up, is to use super sweet tools like Handi-Foil pans.

You cook it, you clean it

Have you ever had that as a motto in your house – “You cook it, you clean it?” In my house I think it’s extremely fair – yet it also discourages me from wanting to cook sometimes, lol. Well, remember how I told you about my secret weapons in the kitchen? Well – let me give you a few awesome reasons to use the new Handi-Foil Holiday Baking Pans this season…

No clean up: Yep, when you use one of these super affordable – and totally disposable – baking dishes for dinners or entertaining, you have way less mess at the end of the night to clean up. Just eat, enjoy, and then toss in the trash!
Gifting: If you love baking homemade gifts like I do, Handi-Foil offers a ton of super festive baking pans that you can use to prepare and present your favorite goodies. You don’t have to spend a ton on buying pretty bakeware, you don’t have to ugly discount containers – you can give your gifts in great quality pans that are as awesome as your gift.
Potlucks: Do you have any potluck style parties on your calendar this month? If so, Handi-Foil pans can be a lifesaver! You can bake your dishes or baked goods in pans that are holiday themed and totally presentable – but can leave whenever you need to, without worry of getting your favorite pan or platter back. LOVE this.

These pans work just as well making a regular dinner at home as they do for baking up special holiday treats. See them in action, and get some dinnertime inspiration too…

Cooking is Love made visible

So, maybe I’m not the best cook out there. But I can make some pretty awesome basic meals for my family, on my frugal grocery budget, that look and taste delicious. And when I combine that with some awesome pans from Handi-Foil so that I don’t even have to clean up – I’m mom of the year, right? No more of that, “Sorry guys, after I clean up the kitchen I’ll come play.” No. Now I just throw the baking pans into the trash, and get on with my busy mom life. What’s better than that? And, if you want my super yummy Homemade Shake & Bake with Bacon and Parmesan Recipe, start with the basic mix from Kitchen Simplicity, then follow these easy peasy steps – and if you want the recipe for the yummy bread at the beginning, remember that it’s here: Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Bread.

Homemade Shake & Bake Chicken with Bacon & Parmesan

Ingredients

Homemade Shake & Bake Mix: http://kitchensimplicity.com/homemade-shaken-bake/
1 clove of minced garlic
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese {or cheat and use a can if needed}
Bacon. Fresh is best, but again, using a jar of REAL bacon bits is ok too. Moms are busy.
Dash of pepper
Chicken breasts

Instructions

Put together the basic Shake & Bake mix.
Add the additional dry ingredients, one at a time, mixing to combine.
Don't feel guilty if you're not using fully fresh ingredients. You're doing your best mom - so give yourself a pat on the back for not resorting to delivery pizza.
Dip each chicken breast in a bit of water, and splash it around into the seasoning mix, on both sides, to cover fully. Press in just a bit, and then lay each piece into the Hand-Foil baking pan.
Once finished, use any extra seasoning coating to sprinkle on top of chicken in the pan.
Bake at 350 degrees, for 45 minutes - or until no longer pink inside.
Serve with your favorite Rosemary Fried Potatoes or other side, and make sure to use your other Handi-Foil pans to create your favorite dessert too!

https://sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/12/real-kitchen-tips-for-real-busy-moms/

Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 17, 2012 Filed Under: Food | 16 Comments

How to Pick the Perfect Pairing: Coffee & Pastries #DeliciousPairings

“Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe, help to make the season bright…” – Well, you know what else makes the season bright, in MY house? Delicious coffee, freshly baked cinnamon rolls, and good conversation with awesome people. Because, really, the best thing about Christmas is the people you love sharing it with you, right?

“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.” – Peg Bracken

This week, I decided to put together a little surprise brunch for my mom. She is absolutely amazing, and has been my very best friend in the world since I was a little girl. And since I became a mother myself two years ago, I now have even more appreciation for how awesome she is – now that I know how hard motherhood can sometimes be. So, since she was coming over this morning to take Abby and I to a great Christmas Party for kids that I help volunteer with, I wanted to pick up some surprises for her while we were out shopping at Walmart yesterday. {See the whole trip here, on Google+, to get some ideas of your own.} As I shopped the bakery, I noticed this big Starbucks sign, talking about #DeliciousPairings, which I’d been hearing a lot of buzz about…

Picking the Perfect Starbucks Blend to Pair with Christmas Treats

Ok – where has this been my whole life? The Delicious Pairings display is amazingly helpful! It shows you how to pair your favorite Starbucks coffee with the perfect pairing of sweet treat. Since each coffee has different notes and undertones, they’ll each pair differently with specific flavors. Just like when you go to a wine tasting, and the same wine can taste totally different when paired with certain cheeses, or dark chocolate – coffee works the same way! Since I was picking up some super duper crazy-delicous looking cinnamon rolls to share with mom for a little surprise brunch, I headed to the coffee aisle to pick up the Starbucks Holiday Blend.

“It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.” – W. T. Ellis

As I wandered the aisles towards the coffee section, I couldn’t help but pick up these absolutely gorgeous flowers for my mom too. I was amazed at what a beautiful selection they had, and how affordable they were – this pretty bunch was only $7.99! And it’s so festive for the holidays – I knew it would make her day feel a little more special. My mom is an amazingly talented gardner, and really enjoys flowers and greenery. Perfect.

Trying out our Perfect Pairing – Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls & Starbucks Holiday Blend

Ok, so I told you that to make the morning a little brighter and sweeter for my wonderful ol’ momma, I was surprising her with a pretty little brunch – just her, and I, and Abby. A “girls morning in”, if you will. {Quite different from my “girls night out” adventures of my pre-motherhood years…} Well, this is as deliciously sweet as you can get – a freshly baked cinnamon roll from the Walmart Bakery, smothered in a delicious cream cheese frosting. Mmmm…. We both took a bite, and seriously – it’s hard to believe these weren’t homemade. Sooooo good, even on their own. But – then it was time to try them with the coffee too, and see how the flavors combine together…

“At Christmas, all roads lead home.” – Marjorie Holmes

The complimentary notes for the Starbucks Holiday Blend coffee are: ginger, pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange, and cloves. Sounds good already, right? Well, lemme tell ya ladies – paired with the cream cheese, flaky & buttery pastry of the rolls, and the flavors in the cream cheese – this was sooooo good. It does seriously remind me of choosing the right wine – swirl a bit of that coffee around in your mouth to really enjoy that mix of scents, and savor the flavors. {Yes, I said “savor the flavors” – this is serious holiday magic here.} Then when you take another bite of your pastry, you’ll love it even more than that first bite on it’s own. My mom thought I was just so smart and classy – giving her this fancy pairing, at a beautifully festive holiday table – including her gift of that perfect Christmas bouquet. Definitely was a hit – and it made me feel amazing to do something nice for my mom, to tell her thank you for all that she does for us….

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” – Norman Vincent Peale

Now that we’ve wrapped up our lovely ladies brunch, we’re headed out to the Christmas party. I love helping to host these great annual events, and can’t wait to see how happy all of the kiddos are. We’ve had a challenging year as a family – with Abby’s seizures and treatment, daddy being out of work, and the rest of the usual stress. But after the tragic events of yesterday, I’m all the more joyful and grateful for what I have, and will be hugging all of the kids today a little tighter than usual. Happy holidays to all!

Let’s Chat: Do you plan to check out this Delicious Pairings display at your own local Walmart too? {Follow the #DeliciousPairings tag on Twtter to see more!} Who would you surprise with a special gift like this? Share some comments!

{Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 15, 2012 Filed Under: Food, Holidays | 2 Comments

What iCarly Taught Me About Kid-Friendly Veggie Recipes…

Kid approved, family ready recipes that make healthy veggies bright and fun… I’m lucky. The kiddos in my house are pretty good fruit and veggie eaters. They help me and grandma grow a big garden out back, so they feel like those tomatoes, carrots, peppers, squash, and strawberries {along with the other abundance of goodies we have!} are their produce. That ownership really helps to encourage them to eat ’em up at meals and snacks. But even kiddos that love good foods benefit from a little fun at meal times, right? If you’re looking for some super fun ways to make veggies “new” again, you have GOT to check out the awesome ideas on the Birds Eye Kids Website.

Kid-Friendly Veggie Recipe Inspiration from iCarly

The reason that the BirdsEye.com website caught my attention at first, is a super fun recipe called the Yakimaniac Veggie Martians. I mean, it’s a super cool creative idea, but that’s not what made it jump out at me. It’s because I’m from a city named Yakima, and the only time I’ve ever heard someone use the term “Yakimaniac” is in reference to people who live here! I knew it somehow how had to be connected… And sure enough, it is. These Martian-ized dinnertime plates let kids add personality to their meal with edible glitter, pretzel antennas, and veggie faces – and they were first featured on the super popular iCarly. And if you’ve watched much iCarly, you know that it’s set in Seattle, and one of the character’s grandpa is from a city called Yakima. Which is where this awesome recipe comes in! Very cool, right? {Every time I travel out of state, and people here where I’m from – if they’re a mom, they mention iCarly right away, lol. Most didn’t know it was a real city!}

Our Kid-Friendly Veggie Smoothies

After showing the kids the awesome Yakimaniac martians named after our hometown, I browsed through some of the other creative ideas – like Veggie Cupcakes and Green Monster Pizza, I decided to try out the Veggie Smoothie recipe, since we are HUGE fans of smoothies here in my house. {It is the easiest way to get a ton of healthy stuff into your kids daily diet!} It’s made with Birds Eye Broccoli, Cauliflower & Carrots – all pre-sliced and frozen, meaning no prep. Mix ’em up in a cool gadget like the Magic Bullet, or whatever blender you have on hand, and you’ve got a super tasty smoothie packed with healthy vitamins. The bright-orange color totally got the kids excited – and the addition of the orange juice, honey, and fruit make is super sweet and yummy.

This was kid-tested in my house – two very picky little boys {6 and 9} and a toddler who has no other opinion than absolute love or complete hate. Verdict? 3 sets of thumbs up!

Try it here. It’s easy as can be to create – and might inspire some other cool veggie combo smoothies too. I’m thinking that carrots with apple sauce and juice, with a dash of cinnamon, might make a really interesting festive drink. And frozen blueberries, frozen broccoli cuts, and cranberry juice combine to make a pretty awesome smoothie – seriously. I’m not always a big veggie fan, so I rely on soups simmered in the crock pot, and cool fruit-veggie combo smoothies to ensure I get a big variety in my diet.

Kid-Friendly Veggie Smoothies

Ingredients

1 bag (12 oz.) Steamfresh® Broccoli, Cauliflower & Carrots, cooked according to package directions, cooled
1/2 cup low fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup orange juice
1 large ripe banana
3 Tablespoons honey or brown sugar
1-1/2 cups ice cubes

Instructions

This is as easy peasy as you can get!
Toss all ingredients into your blender.
Mix 'em up until smooth.
Pour into glasses, and enjoy!
Serves 4 people.

https://sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/11/how-icarly-led-me-to-new-kid-friendly-veggie-recipes/

For more awesome inspiration to help encourage healthy eating, and to simplify meal times in your house – be sure to follow Birds Eye Facebook and Birds Eye Twitter Page, for new promotions and product updates!

Let’s Chat: What are your favorite healthy kid-friendly recipes? Which one of the Birds Eye Kids site are you most excited to try?

{Disclaimer: Photo credit one: Khawkins04. I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Birds Eye. I received product coupons to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 30, 2012 Filed Under: Food | 2 Comments

How to Put Together the Perfect Wine Gift Basket

“Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of good wine.” – Aquinas, St. Thomas… Now, is that a quote for moms, or what? How many days of chaos could be drained away by draining a lovely glass of wine during a bubble bath, and getting a full nights sleep? {Ah…. it sounds nice just typing it….} So, what better gift for the women in your life this holiday season than a gorgeous wine gift basket, right? Or, why not get one for yourself – either to enjoy during holiday entertaining, or to relax after crazy days of shopping, baking, and wrapping? Keep reading to get some tips to putting together the perfect pick for anyone on your list this year…

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 25, 2012 Filed Under: Shopping, Busy Mom Solution, Celebrations, Food | No Comments

If Only Healthy Snacks Smelled as Good as Bacon…. #SmartSnack

“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.” – Doug Larson… Do you struggle to get your kids to eat healthy snacks? We do pretty well in my house – but when they’re bombarded by commercials for sugary treats, fat-loaded snacks, or toy-filled fast food meals – it can be a bit rough. But, as smart mommas, we always have a few tricks in our toolbelts, right? Whether it’s ~~sneaky~~ – err, I mean creative – ways to get kids to eat more veggies, frozen meals that are high on convenience but still low on fat and yucky additives, or new ways to make whole grain sandwiches more fun – I’m always hunting for the best new ideas and products to keep us eating great, while still staying on a budget, and keeping it all low prep.

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