Recipes, Reviews, News and More - From Val's Kitchen

Challenge Butter A Taste Of The West Sweepstakes

valmg — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:56:29 +0000

Challenge Dairy, the largest selling butter brand in the West, is currently hosting a sweepstakes with a fantastic prize. One grand prize winner will receive a 7-day/6-night trip for up to four (4) people to stay at the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch (www.mtnsky.com). That trip includes food, certain on-site activities and round-trip air transportation to/from gateway airport nearest winner’s home. The guest ranch features activities including horseback riding, hiking, fishing, rock climbing and clay shooting. There will also be one first place winner who will receive an $850.00 prize package containing
products from OXO (www.oxo.com) and Spice Islands (www.spiceislands.com).

It’s easy to enter - you can either complete an online form or mail in your entry. You can also earn up to 25 bonus entries using the Tell A Friend option. The sweepstakes ends December 31, 2009. For more information, please visit us at http://www.challengedairy.com/sweepstakes/index.html.

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Four Foods On Friday 96

valmg — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:18:10 +0000

Hi all!

Here’s this week’s questions. Thanksgiving is almost here.

1. Pumpkin pie. Do you make it yourself or buy one already made?
2. Where are you eating Thanksgiving dinner this year?
3. Turkey. Do you like white meat or dark meat?
4. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?

My answers are:

1. I buy fresh or frozen.
2. My house.
3. White meat only and no bones.
4. Tough call - stuffing or mashed potatoes. I have actually mixed the two together in a bowl with gravy - very yummy!

If you play please don’t forget to drop your name and link into Mr Linky so the other players know where to find you. Thanks!

Wordless Wednesday - Did You Know This Is 99.9% Caffeine Free?

valmg — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:49:33 +0000

Thanks for stopping by! If you have a picture up for Wordless Wednesday, leave your link below on Mr. Linky! Then head on over to Mom Knows It All, Here And There, What’s that Smell?, 5 Minutes for Mom, Go Graham Go and The Not-So-Blog Blog for more wordless fun!

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Fruit Snacks Review And Giveaway

valmg — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:57:12 +0000

I feel bad for CJ sometimes. Having Celiac disease and requiring a gluten-free diet usually means he cannot eat a lot of the foods kids like to eat. Simple things like cookies, chips, candy and fruit snacks could cause a major problem. For those that didn’t know, Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks are gluten-free. That means it’s actually a snack that both of my boys can eat. We received two boxes of different fruit snacks for this review. When they arrived I placed them into CJ’s cabinet. That’s where I keep most of the gluten-free foods and everyone else knows not to eat the food there. TJ came into the kitchen one afternoon and told me he was in the mood for fruit snacks and asked me to get them on my next trip to the store. I opened CJ’s cabinet and pulled out a package of the Betty Crocker and gave it to him. He said skeptically, “I can eat those, aren’t they CJ’s?” I assured him it was ok. He tried them and informed me that they tasted just like “real food”. I explained to him that it was real food and that they both could eat it. He thought that was great, because he often wants to share with his brother but can’t. CJ loves the fruit snacks. I tried them myself and you’d never know they were gluten-free fruit snacks. Each serving is under 100 calories, which is also great. We have bought these in the past, along with other brands. Now that I know that these are gluten-free I will be buying these instead of the others.

WIN IT!

ONE winner will receive a Betty Crocker “Simple Joys” prize pack that includes 2 packages of Betty Crocker Fruit-Flavored Snacks, a retro Pick `em Up Sticks game, a light-up yo-yo and a classic Frisbee.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter visit the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Fruit Snacks page. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me which fruit snack you’d like to try the most.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter. (at top of sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (at top of page)
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here. (at top of page)
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Tuesday 11/24/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

Menu Plan Monday

valmg — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:30:44 +0000

Here’s five meals we’ll be eating this week. We’re not at home for the other two nights.

Grilled Cheese

I’ll be using American cheese that’s on sale for $3.99 per pound and a loaf of bread that is $1.79.

Meatballs and pasta

I’ll be using a package of Italian Village Meatballs that’s on sale for $3.74 and a jar of sauce and a pound of corn pasta from the cabinet.

Salisbury Steak, Mac and cheese and Vegetables

I’ll be using a box of On-Cor Salisbury Steak that’s on sale for 4 FOR $10, a bag of frozen Green Giant Frozen Vegetables that’s on sale for $0.99 and a box of mac and cheese from the cabinet.

valmg’s Lasagna

I’ll be using a pound of Mozzarella that’s on sale for $1.69, a 3 pound container of Ricotta that’s on sale for $2.99 and 1 pound of ground beef that’s on sale for $2.49 pound. I’m also using a pound of Italian sausage from the freezer and two boxes of no bake lasagna noodles from the cabinet.

valmg’s Creamy Chicken soup

I’ll be using 2 pounds of Boneless Chicken Breast that’s on sale for $1.49 per pound, two bags of frozen Green Giant Frozen Vegetables that’s on sale for $0.99, two cans of cream of chicken soup from the cabinet, milk from the fridge, spices and a bag of corn pasta from the cabinet.

If you’d like to see more menu plans be sure to visit orgjunkie!