Recipes — Page 10

Busy Mom Solution: FREE Meal Planning Help – Save Time and Money!

Busy Mom Solution: Food on the Table

The Challenge:

You know you should start planning your meals for the week, but you never find the time. You know that meal planning can make dinner time less stressful, since you already know what you’ll be making, and know that you’ve got the ingredients on hand. You know that meal planning can save you tons of money, since you match your weekly meals to the sales at your favorite store. But between kids, work, the house – who has time to keep up, right? And what is the worst thing to hear when you’re already tired…. “Mom, what’s for dinner??!!”

The Solution:

Food on the Table is an online, budget-friendly, meal planning service designed to help families eat better and save money. It combines the weekly sales from your favorite local grocery store with your family’s food preferences to create a family-friendly meal plan that is personalized just for you! You can even get a printable grocery list, or download the app so you can view the list on your smartphone. Amazing, right? And the best part? It’s FREE!

Sign up for Food on the Table’s FREE Meal Planning Service today!!

How it Works:

Head to the Food on the Table website, and all you need to get started is your email address.
Then, type in your zipcode to find the partner stores in your area. They had two of my favorites on there, so you should be able to find at least one of yours too!
Next, set your preferences – do you only eat certain types of meat? Have food allergies or special diets to plan for? Love Italian but hate Chinese food? Click the boxes to personalize your meal plans.
Food on the Table will then bring you some great recipes that fit your family – pick the ones you like best, it’ll match your recipes with the best sales, and print you out an easy to use shopping list. Or, do like I did and get the app, so you have the shopping list right on your phone!

What are you waiting for?

It’s totally free to join – no strings! You’ll save time, save money, and have a much more enjoyable family dinner-time! Check out what other busy moms are saying on the Food on the Table Facebook page – and get started today!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 2, 2011 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution, Freebies | No Comments

Vote for YOUR Favorite Guilt-Free Dessert!

Who Loves Dessert?

Um, all of us, right? But, if you’re like me, and your beautiful baby, in addition to bringing tons of happiness to your life, also brought a set of hips that is a few sizes bigger than you would prefer in your life {Lol!} – then you may be trying not to indulge that sweet tooth as often as you used to. But – the holidays are coming! With cakes, and pies, and cookies – Oh my! So you need to find a solution to calm those cravings, right?

What to do??

Check out this new little helper – Extra now has a line of dessert flavored gums, called Dessert Delights! No, it is NOT the same as eating a piece of pie, I won’t even try to convince you of that :) But – this is one of the tricks I use when I have a craving for sweets… Grab some gum, tell yourself you can have that pie in 30 minutes if you still want it. Seriously, just that taste of something sweet for a bit usually makes your craving go away. Smaller jeans – here I come!

Vote for YOUR favorite!

Here is mouth-watering Dessert Delights lineup includes Orange Crème Pop, Apple Pie, Mint Chocolate Chip, Strawberry Shortcake and Key Lime Pie. But, they are trying to choose ONE additional flavor to add, and want to hear from moms like you! Here are your choices:

Bananas Foster
Root Beer Float
Lemon Square – {This Lemon Square flavor was inspired by the winning dessert of last night’s Quickfire Challenge in the Bravo series “Top Chef Just Desserts.”}

Until November 12, 2011, fans can vote for their favorite Extra Dessert Delights flavor as often as inspired onwww.facebook.com/extragum and on their mobile phones via m.extragumvote.com. The winner of the Fan Flavorite Vote will be announced on November 16, 2011. And – read some of the super yummy ideas that people have left in the comments, like – “You seriously need to make birthday cake, eclair, ice cream, pumpkin pie, blueberry cheesecake, or something else yummy like that.” I would buy a TON of Pumpkin Pie!! You all know of my pumpkin-flavored sweets addiction, right??

What is YOUR favorite??

Leave a comment here with YOUR choice for new flavors – or tell me what you think they should make?? Anyone else on team Pumpkin Spice with me?? :)

{Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win an Extra® Dessert Delights® gum prize package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place. The rewards are just an extra perk – I only share stuff with you that I think is awesome, and fun, and that I think you’ll love!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 28, 2011 Filed Under: Contests | 1 Comment

Share your Best Halloween Creations with Me for a Chance to Win! #giveaway #halloween

Big Savings at Michaels!

I told you ladies the other day how much I LOVE Michaels Craft Store, and how I used to manage the front end and teach classes there when I was in my early 20’s…. So, since maybe it’s YOUR favorite crafty spot too – Check out the awesome sales and coupons this week!

Are you creating some crafty Halloween spookiness?

If so, share your creations with me! I’d love to have you share pictures of your Halloween themed recipes, costumes you’ve made, fun decorations – whatever it is, as long as YOU made it, and it’s related to the holiday, post it up on my Facebook wall, and I’ll feature some fun one’s here on the site the week of Halloween! Need some inspiration? Check out my Spiderweb Spookamole Nachos! – or the super gross, but super fun, Pumpkin Puke!

A Giveaway too!

I’ll even pick a few of my VERY favorite Halloween pic’s and reward their creativity with some fun little prizes! So grab your camera, snap some great photos of your amazing-crafty-spooky-genius, and have a chance to win!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 14, 2011 Filed Under: Giveaways | 1 Comment

Super Simple Peek-a-Boo Cookies!

Can you say, Yummm??

This is from the super fun, super easy, super frugal-friendly recipes over at Mr. Food! I’m such a fan of the Mr. Food cookbooks, that’s definitely my style of cooking – simple and quick! I’ll share some ways to get bunches of his recipes FREE in a minute, but first – lets get to the important part of the post, how to make these amazing cookies….

These bakery-worthy homemade sandwich-style Peek-a-Boo cookies have yummy jam that peeks out from holes in their sugar-coated tops. Whether you make ’em to enjoy at home or for a bake sale, these will go fast!

Peek-a-Boo Cookies

Makes: 4 dozen cookies
Cooking Time: 10 min

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup jam or preserves (see Options)
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

In a large bowl, with an electric beater on medium speed, beat butter, granulated sugar, egg, vanilla, and salt until creamy. Gradually add flour, beating until well mixed. Cover and chill 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Divide dough into 4 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out circles and place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Using a plastic drinking straw, randomly cut out circles of dough from half the cookies.
Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes, or until light golden. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Spread jam evenly over solid cookies. Sprinkle remaining cookies with confectioners’ sugar. Place the cookies with holes over the jam-topped cookies. Serve, or store in an airtight container.

Busy Mom Tips:

In a hurry? Or, like me, and hate getting out a mixer? Use a refrigerated cookie dough instead!
These cookies are delicious and adorable! Try putting out a plate of these along with mugs of steaming cider. Mmmm…..
Any flavor jam can be used, but we like to use an assortment so there are different colors peeking through the holes in the cookies.
You can also make these with frosting, chocolate syrup, caramel sundae topping… Get creative!

Love it?

Super simple, super yummy, and they are just so cute and fun – perfect for holiday entertaining, or to give as gifts.

Get the FREE Recipe Books!

Sign up for these great free recipe books, and you’ll also be able to get the once a week FREE newsletter from them too – filled with really fun ideas. That’s actually where I got this cookie recipe from!

Free eCookbook – Mr. Food Best Brunch Recipes: 29 Easy Brunch Recipes to Celebrate Any Occasion, featuring 45 pages of easy Easter recipes for entertaining! Click Here.
Free eCookbook – Blue Ribbon Casseroles: 23 Easy Casserole Recipes, featuring 31 pages of easy casserole recipes to comfort you all year ‘round. Click Here.
Free eCookbook – No Bake Desserts: 18 Easy Dessert Recipes from Mr. Food, a tempting collection of triple-tested quick and easy no bake recipes, features all of your favorite no bake desserts – no oven required! Click Here.

Thanks for reading! Have a great day…..

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 12, 2011 Filed Under: Uncategorized | No Comments

Mmmmm…. Breakfast with Skillet Bacon Jam!! #recipes #bacon

Have you heard of Bacon Jam??

Skillet Bacon Jam takes Niman Ranch bacon and renders it down along with onions, balsamic, and other spices. Then it cooks for several hours until it is a perfect blend of smoky, tangy, savory and slightly sweet… Basically, it’s spreadable bacony goodness! And you know I LOVE me some bacon!!

Bacon Jam on Toast Rounds with Fried Eggs

Here’s a great way to use the amazing Skillet Bacon Jam – we absolutely loved this! Partner it with some friend potato’s and fresh fruit – perfect for lazy Sunday morning breakfasts with the family.

How to Make It:

Get enough English Muffins, Biscuits, or rounds cut from your favorite bread to feed your family. Toast them in the oven under broil until they’re a crispy golden brown, and spread with butter if you’d like.
Spread a tablespoon or two of Bacon Jam on each toasted bread. Smells amazing already, right?
Now, fry up an egg, however you like ’em, and top each bread with an egg.
Finish up by sprinkling with your favorite herbs and spices, cheese, or salt and pepper.
Enjoy! And check out the big smiles on everyone’s face as they bite into this crispy, bacon-flavored yumminess!

For more great morning recipes, check out Best Brunch Recipes!

More Great Skillet Products:

This Bacon Jam is also so great on burgers, boosts your grilled cheese to new levels, and works mixed with cream cheese or sour cream as a great dip! It is so versatile, and so so good!
My other new favorite product is the Skillet Pumpkin Sauce in Brown Sugar and Apple Vinegar… Ohmyheck, it is amazing!! You have got to try it.

Try it Yourself!

You can use the search tool to find a local grocery in either the US or Canada that carries Skillet products, or if there are none near-by, you can shop their online store.

You can get a 10.5 oz jar of Skillet Bacon Jam for $14.00, and it lasts a long time. The Skillet Pumpkin Sauce is only available for a limited time, and is a great buy at only $8.00!

{Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 5, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Reviews | No Comments

More Spookamole Fun- Pumpkin Puke Recipe!

Who loves “Spookamole” ??

I shared my post with you guys last week – Spiderweb Spookamole Nachos – and loved the comments and emails I got from you on it. It was pretty popular in my house too.

Another Fun Halloween Recipe!

I found out that a bloggy friend of mine put together a “Spookamole” recipe of her own, and just had to share it because it is SO much fun!!

The boys in my house would totally go crazy over this one- so I’ll be putting together my own version soon too.

Check out her instructions on how to make Pumpkin Puke Spookamole on her blog, and let her know how much you love it :)

Do you have a fun recipe to share?

If you’ve made a great Halloween or Fall themed dish, leave me a comment to tell me about it! I’m always looking for fun new recipes. And there are always so many fun things to make for Halloween!

More Fall Fun- Get a FREE Canvas Print!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 29, 2011 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 1 Comment

Rafflecopter Giveaway: Fall Baking Prize Package!

Fall is the best time for baking!

There are so many things that I love about fall- the changing leaves, crisp mornings with sweaters and mugs of coffee, thick cozy socks and blankets -But the best thing about fall is the baking!

I live in Yakima, in Central Washington, which is the Apple Capital of the World– and that means I’m lucky enough to get loads of free apples during this time of year. So many people have extra, and I’m always more than willing to take ’em off their hands.

One of my favorite things to make with all those apples is a crisp- and I’m always looking for new versions to try. When I got this great package from My Blog Spark, and saw that it included some yummy recipe cards, I was SO excited to see that one of the recipes included was Caramel Apple Crisp! I’m so excited to make up a batch of this later in the week, and share it here with you guys! {No licking the screen, ok guys?}

Interesting stuff about Gold Medal White Whole Wheat Flour:

Perfect for family favorite recipes like breads, pizza dough, cookies, muffins and brownies, Gold Medal White Whole Wheat flour bakes up golden and has a milder flavor than baked goods made with regular whole wheat flour.
Start by simply substituting whole wheat white flour for 25 to 50 percent of the recipe’s flour content.
You may wish to add an extra tablespoon or two of the liquid used in the recipe when substituting Gold Medal White Whole Wheat flour or decrease the amount of flour by one to two tablespoon for recipes that call for all-purpose flour.

Healthy Meals + No Complaints = Happy Momma!

It can be hard sometimes, making sure that your family is eating the healthiest foods. Making small changes like baking with Whole Wheat flour can make a big difference- and this new White Whole Wheat flour from Gold Medal is whole grain, but with a taste and texture more like an all-purpose white flour- meaning no one will notice the switch to a healthier ingredient! This is a brand new product, and just became available this month- but it should be easy to find, I got mine at the local Walmart.

More Yummtastic Fall Recipes!

Another reason I get excited for fall is for pumpkin-flavored goodies! I wait in anticipation all year for the Pumpkin Spice Latte’s at Starbucks- {PS, if you love them too, check out this amazing DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte- just like Starbucks!}, I’m a pumpkin bread junkie, and I totally adore just about any baked good with pumpkin in the title. So, here are a couple other Gold Medal recipes I’ll be trying out soon too- Dutch Apple Pumpkin Crisp– which sounds like a really cool combination of flavors, these adorable Spider Web Pumpkin Pancakes, and these Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars. Mmmmmm…..

Win Your Own Baking Package Too!

One lucky fan will win a set just like I got:

A VIP coupon to get a FREE Full Size Package of Gold Medal White Whole Wheat flour.
Instructions for conversion when baking.
The lovely classic Gold Medal logo Cookie Jar.
A full set of cooking and baking recipe cards!

Enter to Win!

Use the easy peasy Rafflecopter Entry form below to enter to win this great fall baking set, and remember to come back to get your daily BONUS entries each day too! And, stay tuned… Later this week I’ll share my experience baking the Caramel Apple Crisp with the new Gold Medal White Whole Wheat Flour.

{Disclosure: The Gold Medal White Whole Wheat flour product, information, and giveaway have been provided by Gold Medal through MyBlogSpark.}

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