Archive for Food and Treats

Mom’s Night Out Papa Murphy’s Pizza Party & Movie!

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What better way to celebrate MOM than with a party! We celebrated my fellow mommy friends with a Papa Murphy’s Pizza Party and boy did we have fun!

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I will not lie the best part of the night was getting together with family and friends…BUT the Pizza was awesome too! Papa Murphy’s offers a great selection of Pizza to take and bake at home! We were able to order exactly what we wanted and took it home for our little party! And mmm was it good!

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We had a few children at our party because in our circle of moms some cannot ever get out without them! LOL! … the children delighted in their own “mini murph” pizza for kids! It is a child size pizza in pepperoni or cheese just for the little ones to make at home! The children thought it was awesome!

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 Check out the Papa Murphy’s E Club for coupons or find deals in your area:

http://www.papamurphys.com/deals/

 

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Another sweet Treat of the Mommy Party was that my sister and I were also delighted to be able to go see the new Movie “Mom’s Night Out” … we were anticipating its arrival since the pizza party …but had to wait a few days until it arrived in theaters! Well … the day finally arrived and we enjoyed it thoroughly! I can honestly say it was a laugh out loud movie with all emotions bundled into a great movie! We laughed, we cried, we had a great time!  I must say that this is a movie that everyone can enjoy! It is out in theaters right now!

Check out their website for more information on the movie!

http://www.momsnightoutmovie.com/

 


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Mother’s Day Gift Idea: The Greek Yogurt in the Kitchen Cookbook

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The Greek Yogurt Kitchen Book Cover

As I mentioned before, we love Greek yogurt so when the opportunity to review The Greek Yogurt in the Kitchen Cookbook I took it. I really like the looks of the Eggs Benedict recipe so I have shared it below.

This cookbook would be a great Mother’s Day gift for you or your own mother. It contains over 130 recipes with meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. It also explains the health benefits of Greek Yogurt. I am really looking forward to trying new recipes, which is a change for me because I usually dread it because my family doesn’t really adapt well to new things, at least certain ones.

You can find The Greek Yogurt in the Kitchen Cookbook at any major book retailer.

About the Author

Toby Amidor is the founder of Toby Amidor Nutrition, where she provides nutrition and food safety consulting services. She is a nutrition expert for FoodNetwork.com, writing for their Healthy Eats Blog, a regular contributor to U.S. News and World Report Eat + Run blog, and an adjunct professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. Toby trained as a clinical dietitian at New York University. Her expertise includes over 14 years of experience in various areas of food and nutrition. Through ongoing consulting and faculty positions, she has established herself as one of the top experts in culinary nutrition, food safety, and media.

Recipe from The Greek Yogurt in the Kitchen Cookbook

Eggs Benedict-6593

Eggs Benedict with Lighter Hollandaise
Serves 4

Hollandaise sauce is typically made with a stick or two of butter to serve four people. The fat and calories can easily be slashed by substituting nonfat Greek yogurt for much of the butter, while still using a touch of butter to maintain the traditional flavor.

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons unseasoned rice vinegar
4 large eggs
2 whole wheat English muffins
Cooking spray
4 slices turkey bacon (about 1/4 pound)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cloves garlic, minced
12 medium asparagus spears, tough ends snapped off
1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:
In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups water to a boil over high heat.
Add the vinegar and lower the heat until it is no longer at a rolling boil.
Crack an egg into a small cup, dish, or wineglass.
Holding it near the surface of the water, gently slide the egg into the hot water.
Repeat with the remaining eggs.
Cover the saucepan and allow the eggs to cook for exactly 6 minutes.
Remove each egg carefully with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel.
Toast the English muffins.
Coat a medium skillet with cooking spray and heat it over medium heat.
Cook the bacon until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
Place a slice of bacon on each toasted English muffin half.
In the same skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat.
Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the asparagus, cover the pan, and cook, tossing occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes.
In a medium bowl, whisk the remaining 1 tablespoon butter with the yogurt, egg yolks, lemon juice, mustard, cayenne, and salt.
Transfer the mixture to the top of a double boiler, set it over simmering water, and heat it, whisking continuously until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.
Immediately remove from the heat.
To assemble the dish, place 3 asparagus spears over the bacon on each muffin half, and top with 1 poached egg and 2 tablespoons of the hollandaise sauce.

NUTRITION INFORMATION (PER SERVING): Calories: 241; Total Fat: 13 grams; Saturated Fat: 6 grams; Protein: 15 grams; Total Carbohydrates: 16 grams; Sugars: 3 grams; Fiber: 3 grams; Cholesterol: 295 milligrams; Sodium: 301 milligrams

Enjoy!


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Stonyfield Greek Yogurt

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I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, our family loves yogurt. We recently tried Stoneyfield Greek Yogurt. It was delicious.

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Did you know Greek yogurt has 20% of the recommended daily allowance of protein? And 30% of calcium? Greek yogurt also contains half the carbohydrates compared to regular yogurt — 5 to 8 grams per serving compared with 13 to 17! (Source: US News)

The store we where bought our Stonyfield Greek Yogurt only had Super Fruits, Blueberry, Strawberry Banana and I think that’s it. I can’t wait to try the other flavors. The night my husband brought the yogurt home everyone was hungry and I didn’t even get a chance to take personal photos! If we get to the store this weekend for more, I’ll try to take photos and add them!

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Super Fruits ingredients:

Our Family Recipe Yogurt (Cultured Pasteurized Organic Nonfat Milk), Pomegranate, Raspberry, Acai Fruit Preparation (Organic Sugar, Organic Raspberry Puree, Organic Corn Starch, Organic Acai Puree, Organic Pomegranate Juice from Concentrate, Natural Flavor, Organic Fruit and Vegetable Juice Concentrates [For Color]), Organic Guar Gum).
Live Active Cultures S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, Bifidus, and L. casei


About Stonyfield Greek Yogurt

Facts:

  • 0% fat and twice the protein of other yogurts
  • Made without the use of harsh pesticides or GMOs
  • Ingredients are bought from farmers Stoneyfield trusts
  • Certified USDA Organic
  • Their cows are not treated with artificial hormones or antibiotics and their cows are treated humanely.

Greek flavors:

Super Fruits
Black Cherry** newest flavor
Blueberry
Cafe Latte** newest flavor
Caramel
Chocolate
Honey
Lemon
Peach Mango
Pineapple
Plain
Raspberry
Strawberry
Vanilla

Our Review of Stonyfield Greek Yogurt

We really loved it! The flavors were great. The yogurt was thick, yummy and tasted delicious! I loved the blueberry.

What Stonyfield Greek Yogurt flavors appeal to you?


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Baby Mum-Mum

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My kids are snack machines. I let them each have two snacks a day. One after their naps in the afternoon, and one at night while we are reading books before bed. I am always looking for a healthy snack to feed them. Trying to find a healthy and delicious tasting snack for kids is not always easy. Fruit is always a good option, but not always convenient when we are on the go. Baby Mum-Mum has come to the rescue!

Baby Mum-Mum offers a variety of snacks for babies, toddlers, and children. I absolutely love that all of their snacks are all-natural, gluten free, allergen free, contain no preservatives, and have no artificial colors or flavors. The best part is Baby Mum-Mums are individually wrapped so they are super easy to throw in my purse or diaper bag when I’m on the go. They are sold in three different stages.

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Baby Mum-Mums are rice rusks for babies, and can be their first solid food. They come in flavors original, vegetable, banana, organic original, and apple. Toddler Mum-Mums are for toddlers 18 months and older and come in flavors organic strawberry, apple, and banana.  Mum-Mum Snax are for children 4-12 years old and come in flavors white cheddar, apple cinnamon, and strawberry banana.

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I let my one year old try the Baby Mum-Mums and her favorite was the vegetable flavor. This is great since she’s not the biggest fan of regular vegetables; I have to hide them in her applesauce. Each package contained two rusks. I gave her one rusk, she took a bite and LOVED it. They are perfect for her since they dissolve in her mouth. I’ve never seen her eat a snack so fast!  Now I throw them in my purse when I go shopping and it’s very easy for her to feed herself while sitting in the shopping cart. They are perfect size for her hands and the best part is they don’t make a mess.

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I wish I had found Baby Mum-Mums sooner for my kids. They are a great snack, very convenient, healthy, and easy on the wallet. They can be found at many major stores including Target and Walgreens. I will be recommending them to all of my friends with babies.  Baby Mum-Mums are a great product!  To learn more about Baby Mum-Mums, visit their website at

www.mummums.com

 


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Fresh Express Salad Swap Party #momsmeet #saladswap

We were provided coupons in exchange for our hosting a Fresh Express salad swap party for Moms Meet. All opinions and thoughts are our own.

You all know we are trying to live a healthy lifestyle, including our eating habits. Our whole family enjoys salad. That’s why we were interested in this Fresh Express salad swap.
For the first time in two years, we’ve been battling a serious cold for the past month or so. But we also have mold in our rental home too so it is hard to discern what exactly is causing our illness at this point. Due to our illness, we rescheduled our Fresh Express Swap party a couple of times and finally opted to send our guests their coupons for them to try the Fresh Express Swap app themselves and send us their feedback and photos. The overall opinion was unanimous. Everyone enjoyed their Fresh Express salads!

Fresh Express Facts

•Fresh Express salads are thoroughly washed, rinsed, and gently dried, then sealed in patented “Keep-Crisp®” breathable bags to keep their just-picked freshness, without
preservatives.
• Fresh Express has a wide variety of products, including refreshing mixes and ready-to-eat kits. They also have a special USDA-Certified Organic line.
• Fresh Express salad mixes can vary in price, depending on the retailer, but typically cost between $2-$4 per bag.

The organic line did not seem to be easy to find in the stores we visited, which may just depend on the individual store’s buying/selling habits.


About the FREE Fresh Express Salad Swap App

 

The free Fresh Express Salad Swap App includes a variety of recipes and salad swaps, a progress tracker, motivation and inspiration, even additional Fresh Express coupons.

You can also participate in the 30 Day Salad Swap challenge and have a chance to earn more salad coupons. For every two salads you buy, you earn a coupon, which will be emailed to you. So if your new year’s resolution to lose weight or eat healthy has fallen by the wayside, this challenge could reboot your goal, plus give you great recipe ideas of how to swap out your favorite high calorie meals for a healthier alternative.

Here are a few screen shots to show you a little inside look at the app:

Fresh Express Salad Swap App 1

Fresh Express Salad Swap App 2

I wanted to know what would be a swap for blueberry pancakes (my favorite!) and this is the salad that came up:

Fresh Express Salad Swap App 3

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Here’s what Magen thought of the app:

“Just tried the app … Wow! So cool! I am actually going to the store to try one of the swaps now. Going to try the lemon tilapia with Kale! I like that it has a calorie tracker and that you can put in what you are craving and it actually gives you an EASY option to trade with which are yummy!”

Download the Salad Swap app at 30daysaladsswap.com
 


Fresh Express Salad Swap Party

I opted to do a sandwich version of this Salad swap – Grown up Ham and Cheese but with my own twist.

Fresh Express Salad Swap App Recipe Ham and Spinach

I used wheat bread, Fresh Express Baby Spinach, deli ham, colby cheese, raw honey and mustard. I made it like a grilled cheese sandwich in a frying pan but instead of butter I used coconut oil, which heated up waayyy too fast…and they say coconut oil does not burn? Yes it does. This was my first time trying to substitute coconut oil with butter. I think next time I’ll have everything ready before I turn on the burner! I’ll blame it on being in a hurry and my head being clogged from this cold.

Fresh Express Salad Swap Grown Up Ham and Cheese_

Rosemarie shared:

“If you’re craving a favorite comfort food search Fresh Express Recipes for a delicious Salad Swap. I love Middle Eastern cuisine and falafel are one of my favorites. I was eager to try the Roasted Chickpea and Cucumber Salad with Lemon Feta Vinaigrette. It had the zesty flavors. I love and the firm and crunchy Fresh Express Leafy Green Romaine held up great under the roasted chickpeas. This Salad Swap was a healthy alternative that I would make again.”

Fresh Express Salad Swap Rosemarie

Magen and her family opted to do the Bacon Caesar salad kit:

Fresh Express Salad Swap Magen Collage

Here’s what they had to say about the salad, “We loved Fresh Express Salad. My daughter had a friend over and they could not wait to tear into the bag for lunch. They even started eating it before I could serve it at the table. Fresh express salad was very tasty and we LOVED their “kit” option!”

Here is what Jamie said:

“I enjoyed a lovely cheeseburger salad.”

Fresh Express Salad Swap Collage

There is a Fresh Express salad coupon available online for YOU at greenmomsmeet.com/freshexpress and you can learn more about Fresh Express by visiting their social media sites:

FreshExpress.com (click on their store locator for stores carrying Fresh Express)

Facebook.com/FreshExpressSalads

Pinterest.com/FreshExpress


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Gorton’s Artisan Fillets Review

 

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Since 1849 Gorton’s has been providing America with quality seafood!

Gorton’s is famous for their seafood varieties…well … they have done it again!

Introducing the NEW Artisan fillets! The NEW Artisan Fillets boast REAL wild – caught Alaskan Pollack! They have bold ingredients like chilies, peppercorns, garlic, and lemon. They are finished with crunchy breadcrumbs made with Italian bread, crushed tortilla strips, and Panko breadcrumbs. WOW!

There are 4 new varieties for the Artisan fillets:

  • Roasted Garlic & Italian Herb

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  • Lemon & Cracked Pepper

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  • Southwest Tortilla

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  • Southern Style

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These NEW Gorton’s Artisan fillets make dinner preparation convenient!

Dinner is now trendy and tasty!

Our Review:

We are fans of Gorton’s traditional fish options, and were very pleased to hear about their new Artisan fillets. We tried one of each of the new Artisan fillets … they were AWESOME! Not only did mom and dad enjoy the fish but the children LOVED the choices as well. We were able to sample each variety of Artisan fillet and by far the Roasted Garlic & Italian Herb and lemon and Cracked Pepper varieties were out family favorite. The southwest tortilla and southern style fillets came in a close second! I was surprised that the children enjoyed such bold tastes that the new Artisan fillets boast…they certainly pop with flavor! Over all preparation and cooking was a breeze…and taste was phenomenal!

 

You can find more information about Gorton’s new Artisan fillets and other Gorton’s products at  www.gortons.com.

Try Gorton’s for yourself by downloading a coupon HERE … you can also find recipes HERE!

As always you can connect with Gorton’s on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST and/or INSTAGRAM!

Finally do not forget to enter Gorton’s Real Solutions Sweepstakes: Enter daily for a chance to win Gorton’s prizes to include a grand prize of $2,500! You can enter now until April 21st.

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Enter to Win the Ride of Your Life with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. or a VIP Cheerios® Racing Getaway with Austin Dillon

Are you a huge racing fan? Go to bit.ly/1doILQW to create a customized shopping cart for the chance to win a ride with Dale Earnhardt Jr. or a VIP Cheerios racing getaway to Charlotte, NC with Austin Dillon and many other prizes!

Check out these prize details:

Kroger Ultimate Race Fan Experience

Grand-prize: Win a ride with Dale Earnhardt Jr. sponsored by Unilever or a VIP Cheerios® racing getaway with Austin Dillon sponsored by General Mills.

You could also win:

· An autographed helmet sponsored by Smithfield

· An autographed fire suit sponsored by Smithfield

· 4 person ticket packages at 19 tracks sponsored by Coke®

· An autographed Carl Edwards diecast car sponsored by Kellogg’s®

· A $25 Kroger Gift Card

Increase your chances by entering daily anytime from 2/16/14-3/9/14.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fast Track to Savings

Fast Track to Savings

Save big at Kroger! Save $3 instantly at checkout when you mix & match any 6 participating items with your Shopper’s Card. Items must be purchased in a single transaction. Participating item varieties and sizes may vary by store.


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Grand Opening of Grocery Store Chicago Mariano’s

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #MyMarianos #CollectiveBias

FFR Grocery Store Chicago Mariano's Lk Zurich Grand Opening

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the grand opening of a new grocery store Chicago Mariano’s in Lake Zurich. I am so excited because this puts Mariano’s even closer to us! I took two children with me and they said the new store was nice and shiny. Neither of them have ever been to Mariano’s.

I have been to three Chicagoland Mariano’s and I have to say that besides the selection of organic products offered, the courteous and friendly staff stood out to me the most – at every store. For example, last week when I went to the customer service desk to meet up with the media contact I spoke with a couple of different Mariano’s employees. Then after the tour of the store I spent well over an hour shopping before heading to check out. I met up with one of those initial staff members near the check out area. He actually remembered me and asked if I found who I was looking. As busy as it was for a grand opening, I was impressed.

I finally signed up for Mariano’s reward card since I plan to be back often and forgot the other two times. Using the sign up kiosk was really easy once an associate got me started.

Lake Zurich Mariano’s Highlights

Those of you reading for any length of time know I love shopping at Mariano’s. It’s always more than a shopping trip, it is an experience. It was no different at the new Lake Zurich store. Below are a few highlights.

The first department I always shop first is the Produce Department. Mariano’s has more than 200 organic choices! We had to buy fruit and veggies for upcoming meals and birthdays!

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Mariano’s in Lake Zurich is the only store to offer a specialty balsamic vinegar and olive oil “tasting bar” with 200 different kinds of each product in its International Aisle.

FFR Grocery Store Chicago Mariano's Lk Zurich Vinegar Olive Oil bar.jpg

We love the International Aisle. It’s filled with lots of interesting products from 15 different countries and it’s actually where I found quinoa (keen-wa), an ingredient we need to make Quinoa Hamburger Soup.

Mariano’s Specialty Cheese section is a fun place to visit, featuring hundreds of artisanal, imported and domestic cheeses. Not to mention cheese sampling as well. Yummy!

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Mariano’s health key (TM) is helpful in finding products that are gluten-free, vegan, organic or heart healthy.

FFR Grocery Store Chicago Mariano's Lk Zurich Health Key

Meat & Seafood Department. Did you know that Mariano’s will grill your meat or seafood before you take it home? No charge. All you need to do is ask. I didn’t know this. Though I am not fond of seafood, I do like the fact that Mariano’s brings much of their Chicago seafood from shore to store within 24 hours.

FFR Grocery Store Chicago Mariano's Grill Station

There is a dietitian available for consults and education, which was also new to me.

Squeez’d smoothie bar features made-to-order yummy, nutritional fruit and vegetable smoothies, plus Mariano’s signature fresh-squeezed orange and other juices. We got to sample the fresh-squeezed orange juice and it reminded me of my summer in Costa Rica, when our hostess served us fresh-squeezed OJ each morning, just like my grandma use to when I visited her house.

The Bakery Department will make your mouth water with its delectable scents of freshly baked items. We bought sandwich bread and Italian bread.

Coffee lovers will enjoy getting their morning cuppa at Mariano’s Vero coffee shop with authentic Italian coffee and gelato. Shhh….but I’ve never had gelato.

Mariano’s sure was busy and we even visited first thing in the morning! I was very happy it had ample parking and lots of carts, including little red children’s carts – so cute to see little ones helping their moms shop!

You can learn more about Mariano’s by visiting their Facebook page or following them on Twitter.


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A JOLLY TIME Pop Corn Recipe for Valentine’s Day

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There is nothing like snuggling up with your loved ones around a classic bowl of good ole popcorn! Jolly time might even inspire you to write a love poem around those light , fluffy kernels of buttery goodness!

 

This Valentine’s Day why not treat your family to some Jolly Time Pop Corn! Try out the recipe below for a special Valentine treat for the kids or any loved one! We sure did! We made the Choco Cherry Hearts for the family… and don’t worry if you do not have a heart shaped cookie cutter … we made ours into balls instead and put them on the sticks and they turned out great as popcorn pops! So any way you “pop” it this is a great Valentine’s treat! Throw them in the children’s lunch or surprise a loved one with a bouquet!

 


Choco Cherry Hearts Bouquet Recipe

Choco-Cherry-Heart-Bouquets

Makes about 8

Ingredients:

12 cups popped JOLLY TIME® Smart Balance Butter Light Microwave Pop Corn (about 1 bag)

1-1/2 cups dried tart cherries

1 (1-pound) bag mini marshmallows

1 cup white chocolate chips or chopped vanilla candy coating

¼ cup butter

Red food color

Long lollipop sticks or thick bamboo skewers

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate morsels

 

Here’s How:

Mix popcorn and cherries in a large bowl.

Place marshmallows, white chocolate, and butter in a large saucepan. Cook over low heat until melted and smooth. Stir in a few drops of red food color to tint the mixture pink.

Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn; toss gently until well coated.

With wet or buttered hands, press mixture into a 3-1/2 to 4-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter (place cutter on a foil-lined baking sheet; press in popcorn, then lift cutter off).

Insert a lollipop stick in the base of each heart.

Allow popcorn hearts to cool completely. Meanwhile, melt the dark chocolate. Drizzle over hearts.

Allow to harden.

Wrap hearts in cellophane and tie with ribbon; stand them up in a vase or jar as a centerpiece or gift.

You can find more flavors, recipes, and inspiration from America’s first family of popcorn ~ celebrating its 100th birthday this year! Please visit Jollytime.com for more information on this product, coupons and free offers!

Link to Jolly Time Pop Corn promotions (coupons and free offers with UPC submission)

 

 


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Celebrating Valentine’s Day as a Family

Ah! Love is in the air – Valentine’s Day is coming!

Valentine's Day February 14

I remember the days of being Sweethearts –  going out to dinner, flowers, & candy.  My…My… can things change once kids enter the picture.  Valentine’s Day has changed in our house, we now celebrate as a family.   Here’s a few inexpensive ways to make Valentine’s Day a family event!

1.)     Make heart pancakes for breakfast – Make your favorite pancake mix, add a few drops of red food coloring.  Stir up the batter good and cook them.  When they are done cooking, take a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut out your heart pancakes.

2.)    Heart shaped sandwiches for lunch – This is a good craft as well as lunch.  Build your favorite sandwich and then use the heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out a really cute sandwich.

3.)    You need flowers for Valentine’s Day – Material needed:  a few sheets of colored tissue paper and a pipe cleaner for each flower.  Take the tissue paper and lay them on top of one another and then twist a pipe cleaner in the middle.  Fluff out the tissue paper to make tissue flowers.

4.)    You can’t have Valentine’s Day without chocolate –  My favorite is chocolate covered strawberries.  Buy strawberries at your local store and a bag or a few bars of your favorite chocolate.  Using a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate in 30 second intervals at first.  Stir the chocolate.  Once the chocolate starts to melt only microwave about 10 seconds or less, be careful not to burn the chocolate.  Use oven mitts to take the chocolate out of the microwave, it will be very hot.  Then dip your washed & dried strawberries into the chocolate, I sometimes use a spoon to coat the berry.  Place the chocolate strawberry on wax paper to dry.

Enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day as a family!

 


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