A year ago I was desperate to make some changes to my diet, so I started incorporating tons more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into my diet. I started making yummy stir fry dishes and doing lots of things with brown rice, but I was terrible at cooking the rice! I’m completely impatient, so I was always lifting the lid or not letting it sit long enough, and as a result, it always came out either gummy or not quite soft enough. I decided to make life easier for myself, and I bought a cheap rice cooker. Little did I know, I was purchasing perhaps the most useful kitchen gadget I own. That’s right: rice cookers do more than just cook rice. Don’t believe me?

Here are 5 alternative (and completely awesome) uses for the rice cooker in your life:

1. Macaroni and cheese

Did I just blow your mind? Go ahead, let the shock wear off. I’ll wait.

Making macaroni and cheese in a rice cooker is ridiculously simple, and it tastes a thousand times better than the boxed stuff. To make your own rice cooker mac, all you need is: 1 one cup stock or water, 1 cup heavy cream, 2 cups of dry pasta, 1 cup of your favorite cheese, 2 tablespoons butter, and salt and pepper, to taste.

Combine the ingredients in your rice cooker, then cover it, turn it on, and walk away. When the rice cooker shuts off, you’ll have perfect, gooey homemade macaroni and cheese with minimal effort on your part. It’s like magic.

2. Steamed meats and vegetables

Some rice cookers come with a steaming basket included, but really any circular steaming rack will work for this.

Just put a cup of water in the well of the rice cooker and cook covered to create steam. Cooking times will vary, depending on what you’re making. For a more complete meal, try cooking some rice in the well while steaming veggies or fish on top. One pot, one healthy and no-fuss dinner.

3. Steel Cut Oats

Steel cut oats cook beautifully in a rice cooker, and while you don’t save on cooking time, the rice cooker does give you the benefit of being able to prep the oats, push a button, walk away, and come back to a perfectly cooked meal every time.

Use about 2 cups of water for every one cup of oats. You can even mix in your favorite goodies, such as bananas, nuts, berries, or flax seeds. The only caveat to this one? Your rice cooker MUST have a porridge setting. But, don’t worry: most rice cookers do these days, and some of them even have the added bonus of a timed start, so you can prep oats the night before and come down to perfectly cooked oatmeal in the morning.

4. Fritatta

I’d never made a fritatta before I got my rice cooker, and now I make them all the time. They’re super easy, delicious, and so quick.

Simply coat the well of your rice cooker with cooking spray. Mix eggs along with your choice of veggies and seasonings in a bowl until well combined. Dump the mixture into your rice cooker, cover, and cook for 12-14 minutes. You can slice it up with a spatula or spoon it out, and enjoy a healthy, easy breakfast before you start your day.

5. Lentils and Quinoa

Lentils and quinoa can be tricky to cook correctly. A rice cooker helps take away some of the guess work.

Generally, when coking both lentils and quinoa in the rice cooker, you should stick to the ratio of two parts water to one part product. You might have to play around with the proportions depending on your cooker, but overall the rice cooker is a fool-proof way to perfectly prepare these foods. You can even add other ingredients and use your rice cooker to simmer a soup or a stew.

Summer Infant is thrilled to announce the launch of the new Fuze Stroller, a perfect blend of fashion & function for parents on-the-go. This innovative stroller line is lightweight, modular, and versatile for a smooth, comfortable ride. It is made with a rugged, all-alluminum construction and weighs less than 25 pounds. The removable seat can be adjusted to forward and rear-facing with three recline positions. The stroller folds with seat in place and there is an adjustable handlebar for parents of all heights, lockable front swivel wheels with front and back suspension, one-step rear brake, and parent cup holder.

The Fuze can be purchased as a standalone stroller in 3 different fashions, including the very on-trend chevron pattern, or as a complete travel system. The travel system comes with Summer Infant’s award-winning Prodigy® Infant Car Seat, a technology lifesaver for parents. Prodigy provides one-of-a-kind Smart Screen Technology to guide parents through a simple three-step installation process. The SafeGuard 1-Adjust Harness system adjusts straps automatically to fit baby as she grows.

Summer Infant has offered to giveaway a stroller on our blog! Entering to win is super easy, just use the form below and have fun!!!! Ends May 29th, 2013.

Enter To Win Below:

The suggested retail price for the stroller is $349.99 and $499.99 when purchased as a travel system with the Prodigy Infant Car Seat. See more here: http://www.summerinfant.com/fuze

Commenting below is optional although we would love if you shared why you’d love to win this so others can see! The form above will keep track of entrants and e-mail addresses so we can easily contact the winner when it picks randomly on May 29th.

for the kids! :)

Forget the conventional vacuum: Dyson has engineered a new way to clean. The Dyson Digital Slim™ is a lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner, engineered for nimble, high performance cleaning.

James Dyson: “Dyson engineers used Archimedes’ simple, but brilliant lever principle to perfect the configuration of the machine – giving it perfect poise in the hand. Power in the grip and balance in the wand has given us an agile machine that performs better.”

A light aluminium wand reaches from floor to ceiling and can be detached for up-close tasks like car cleaning. Weighing just 5 pounds, the Dyson Digital Slim™ vacuum cleaner has a balanced weight distribution for high, low, hard-to-reach and in-between spaces.

Digital Slim™ uses patented Root Cyclone™ technology and the Dyson digital motor – a small, lightweight, high density motor that is up to three times faster than conventional motors. New battery technology delivers a fade-free 20 minute run time with no loss of suction. For stubborn dirt, a button triggers 8 minutes of boost suction.

At the business end, a motorized cleaner head combines anti-static carbon fiber filaments and stiff nylon brushes to tackle dust and dirt on any surface – capturing fine dust on hard floors and ground-in dirt from carpets.

End to end technology

Dyson digital motor
Dyson digital motors are engineered to be small and powerful. Using digital pulse technology, they spin at up to 104,000rpm – making the Dyson Digital Slim™ the most powerful cordless vacuum.

New battery technology
A 22.2V nickel manganese cobalt battery pack releases its charge evenly so there is no drop in performance.

Root Cyclone™ technology
Dyson’s patented Root Cyclone™ technology – condensed to fit into the machine – spins dust and dirt out of the air using centrifugal force, so there’s no loss of suction.

Motorized head
The motorized floor tool has an independent 30W motor driving stiff nylon bristles into carpet pile to remove stubborn dirt. A carbon fiber brush bar has anti-static carbon filaments to remove fine dust from hard floors.

The Dyson Digital Slim™ vacuum cleaner is available now on dyson.com and most major retailers, and costs $399.99.

Warranty: Parts and labor are covered for two years.

Energy Star Rating: The machine’s battery charger has qualified for the Energy Star rating, due to its energy efficiency.

For those asking, I highly recommend this vacuum! I use it at home and I love it.

Surely, your kids have hidden vegetables that they don’t want to eat at dinner time… because I know for a fact my child is not the only one!

The Clorox® Ick-tionary captures the icky every day and over-the-top situations that everyone can relate to; from circumstances surrounding the unpleasantness of poop and pee to things like applesauce on the ceiling (how?), to the sticky situation you’re in from the accidental “reply to all” mass email.  Visit www.icktionary.com to laugh, commiserate and resolve some of these mishaps and see how Clorox® cleaning and laundry products can help turn a lot of these ep-ick disasters into cleaning wins.
Starting April 2, visit www.icktionary.com to see the collection of the Clorox® Ick-tionary words, add your own and see how Clorox® can help clean up the ick so you can laugh about it later.

·    Check out the featured word(s) of the week; three new words will be featured every week.
·    Receive a coupon for 75 cents off any Clorox® product while supplies last.
·    Submit your own words! Help add to the Clorox® Ick-tionary by submitting your own funny words or phrases that help you get through the ick.
·    Learn how to clean up the ick. Get solutions from Clorox® to help conquer the next icky situation.
·    Interact with the words and play fun games for the chance to win a $25 prize.

You can find out all the details about this term and many others in the Clorox® Ick-tionary.

Cleaning isn’t exciting or fun by any means so we thought we’d make light of it by pinning some of our favorite products and e-cards:

Share your parenting ick moment for a chance to win $250 for Dad’s Day Out from Clorox! Visit www.icktionary.com to learn the new language for ick and how Clorox® cleaning and laundry products can help you tackle the next icky situation in your home, play games and win coupons while supplies last!

 This post is brought to you by The Clorox Company.  I have partnered with them to spread the word about Clorox’s Ick-tionary program. To share Ick-tionary terms and real life messes, visit [www.icktionary.com].  All opinions and stories are my own. Official Sweepstakes Rules

Potato Pizza with Carmelized Onions and Garlic Olive Oil

Ingredients

For the pizza dough
2 cups flour
2 1/4 tsp. instant yeast
1 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup hot water
1 Tbs. olive oil
Cornmeal (for dusting)

2 cups thinly sliced Yukon Gold potatoes (about 2 medium sized potatoes)
1 medium onion
Garlic infused olive oil (for drizzling)
Salt
Pepper

Directions

To make the pizza dough, in the bowl combine the dough ingredients (from flour through salt). Add hot water and the olive oil. Knead the dough for 5 minutes. The dough should come together into a large ball and pull away from the sides of the bowl; it should be moist but not sticky, adding extra flour to get the right consistency. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature until the dough is doubled in size, about 2 hours.

For the Garlic Infused Olive Oil

Finely chop 5 or 6 garlic cloves and add to a saucepan with 1/4 cup of olive oil and a pinch of salt and red pepper flakes. Heat over medium high heat for a few minutes, making sure the garlic does not brown. Set aside.

Topping

Add sliced potatoes to an ice water bath for several hours or until they are slightly limp. Dry thoroughly and season lightly with salt and pepper. Thinly slice 1 medium onion with some salt and pepper and olive oil over medium high heat until caramelized, about 8 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 500°F

To assemble pizza, roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface. Sprinkle the bottom with olive oil and cornmeal to ensure a cripsy crust. Brush dough with the garlic infused olive oil, and then add a single layer of potatoes, a layer of caramelized onions, another layer of potatoes, and topping it all off with the remaining onions and a drizzle of the olive oil.

Bake at 500°F until the potatoes are cooked through and the bottom of the crust is crisp, about 25-30 minutes.

I used to hate tomatoes
I used to hate goat cheese
I used to hate spinach

However, this recipe not only has those 3 ingredients, they are pretty much the stars of this delicious appetizer, snack or meal.

It all started when I met one of my friends for lunch at a local restaurant. We decided to order the bruschetta and hesitant at first, I decided that I had a new favorite appetizer.

I have ordered the bruschetta at the restaurant many, many times but decided to try to master it myself. I’d like to think that this recipe produces results that are much better than any restaurant can ever make but that might be a biased opinion so I will leave it for you to decide!

This recipe makes 24 pieces! Not only that, it’s pretty simple to make. Perfect for a party.

You may think the goat cheese/pesto is a weird combination but I promise you… it flows together so perfectly, this recipe will hook you and reel you in!

Goat Cheese Pesto Bruschetta
with Balsamic Vinaigrette Drizzle

Ingredients

4oz Goat Cheese Crumbles (usually found in your local grocery store, in the cheese/deli section)
2 tablespoons Basil Pesto Sauce (I used Classico)
1 Baguette
1 bag of Spring Salad Mix (garnish)
6 or 7 ripe plum/cherry tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinaigrette
6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped.
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup Shredded Parmesan

Directions

1. Prepare the tomatoes first. Soak the tomatoes for one minute in boiling water that has just been removed from the burner. Drain. Rinse with cold water. Set aside.

2. Make sure there is a top rack in place in your oven. Turn on the oven to 400°F to preheat.

3. While the oven is heating, chop up the tomatoes finely. Put tomatoes, garlic, 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a bowl and mix. Add the chopped basil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

4. Slice the baguette on a diagonal about 1/2 inch thick slices. Coat one side of each slice with olive oil using a pastry brush or you can pour some olive oil on a plate and dip the bread slices into it before placing them on a cooking sheet, olive oil side down. Toast for 5-6 minutes, until the bread just begins to turn golden brown.

5. While the bread is toasting, dump the goat cheese crumbles and basil pesto in a bowl and mix well until smooth enough to spread.

6. Align the serving platter with a thin layer of the spring salad mix. After that, align the bread on the platter on top of the salad, olive oil side up. Spread a thin layer of the cheese pesto on each slice.

Either place the tomato topping in a bowl separately with a spoon for people to serve themselves over the bread, or place some topping on each slice of bread and serve.

If you top each slice with the tomatoes, do it right before serving or the bread may get soggy.

Top the bruschetta with the shredded parmesan and drizzle with the balsamic vinaigrette.

Serves 6-10 as an appetizer. Yield: Makes 24 small slices.

A timeless backdrop offering guest’s a glimpse into the past, The Renaissance Vinoy® Resort & Golf Club celebrates The Great Gatsby summer blockbuster by inviting rebellious couples to rekindle their love affair with a ROARING 20’S EXPERIENCE, starting at $379*/night. As the lavish parties begin on the May 10th movie debut date, guests can enjoy luxe accommodations for two, prohibition cocktails and a picnic lunch while touring downtown St. Petersburg via horse-drawn carriage, dinner for two each night at Vinoy’s signature restaurant, and a “scandalous” couples swing dance lesson.

ROARING 20’S EXPERIENCE
Starting at $379*/night, May 1 – 31, 2013
Prohibition Cocktails and Picnic while touring the town via Carriage Ride
Couples “Charleston” Dance Lesson with Fred Astaire Dance Studio
Upgraded Bay View Guest Room
Dinner for Two Each Evening from Marchand’s 1925 Classic Dining Menu ($19.25)

Guests of the Vinoy can sip on prohibition cocktails, like a Whiskey Old Fashioned and the Sidecar, just like Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire and the entire Great Gatsby cast do, while cozying up and enjoying a customized picnic and tour of downtown St. Petersburg from a horse-drawn carriage. Channeling the era of flappers and speakeasies, twosomes are taught “The Charleston”, a scandalous dance craze banned from dance halls during the 1920s.

Guests experience the feeling of their own personal retreat in upgraded bay view rooms with luxurious amenities and evening turndown service. At the resort’s award-winning restaurant, Marchand’s Bar & Grill, couples indulge in sinfully delicious meals from the 1925 Classic Dining menu, featuring three-courses of delights from crispy pork belly and harrisa lamb shank to dark chocolate waffles with salted caramel gelato and white chocolate ganache.

Originally opened on New Year’s Eve in 1925 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club is the only historic luxury resort on Florida’s west coast that boasts a private 72-slip marina, 18-hole private golf course, 12-court tennis complex and 5,000 sq. ft. fitness center. The seven-story hotel is ideally situated along the water in downtown St. Petersburg overlooking Tampa Bay. Recently renovated, the lounge-like lobby blends modern elegance with Mediterranean Revival architecture featuring bold colors and artwork by world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly and artist Renee Dinauer. Updates have been made to all 361 guestrooms, and with more than 61,000 sq. ft. of indoor/outdoor event space, five restaurants, a salon and day spa and amenities that cater to leisure and business travelers, the hotel is St. Petersburg’s premier AAA Four Diamond resort.

For more information or to book THE ROARING 20’S EXPERIENCE, please visit www.vinoyrenaissanceresort.com or call 1-888-303-4430.

* Restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Promo code P51 must be referenced at time of reservation.

Before you know it summer will be here, school will be out and your kids will be blissfully enjoying all this season has to offer. But before your little ones get too far take a look at these tips that will  keep your kids soaking up the sunshine all summer long and out of the emergency room.

Sunburns

Did you know, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, getting one blistering sunburn when you’re a kid doubles your chances of developing melanoma. That makes putting sunscreen on your child seem a little more serious! But sunscreen isn’t just important for your kids, you too must remember to put it on  regardless of your skin type.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that everyone apply a water-resistant sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Be sure to choose a sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 and apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Apply as much as would fill a shot glass, about every two hours and after swimming or other vigorous activity.

Bites and Stings

Insect repellent is a must to protect against bites and stings from mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and the other bothersome bugs that summer brings. But you can’t just choose any repellent for your child’s skin. Try not to use insect repellents containing DEET on kids because it can be toxic. Never use any repellent on infants. If for some reason you must use repellents containing DEET on your child choose one with 10 to 30 percent concentrations.  Put it on exposed skin, clothing and shoes but do not apply it to little faces or hands.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends repellents that contain picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, both are non-toxic and reduce bites just as well as repellents containing low levels of DEET. Also, if applying both sunscreen and insect repellent on your child use the sunscreen first and follow-up with the repellent.

Bikes

Rule #1, your child must always wear a helmet. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sets standards for helmets, so be sure to check out the appropriate fit for your little biker and choose a helmet with a CPSC safety seal on it. Injuries can happen anywhere, in driveways, sidewalks and on bike paths, not just on the street. Children learn best by observing you so set the example: whenever you ride, put on your helmet.

In addition to the correct helmet fit you must remember that kids will outgrow their bikes. If the bike is the appropriate  size, your child will be able to straddle the top bar of his or her bike with both feet flat on the ground with a 1 to 3-inch gap between the bar and your child’s body.

Pools

No matter the age of your kids or how well they can swim, never leave them alone near the pool. If you are lucky enough to have a pool at home, take precautions, install fencing around pools at least 5-feet high, all the way around and with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Also, pool and gate alarms will alert you when the pool water becomes agitated or when the gate is opened.

Crowds

Before you head out to a crowded outdoor concert, fair or sporting event with your family go over some simple items to prevent anything bad from happening. First, identify a safe place where you will meet your children if you get split up. Make sure your kids know to check first before heading anywhere without you and remind them to always take a friend or another sibling. Tell your children to never take anything or go anywhere with strangers without your permission. It is also important to leave clothes displaying your kid’s name at home. Your child may get confused if a stranger yells his or her name.

These tips may seem simple but we sometimes forget them with all the summertime excitement. So take them to heart and enjoy a tear-free summer with the family!

Tips provided by MissionTuition.com, the easiest way to save for your child’s future.

Lounging poolside under a colorful umbrella, sipping an icy cold glass of ginseng-mint-sun tea with fruit-filled ice cubes — it’s summer and time for backyard cookouts. Invite friends and family over for a leisurely cookout where you can while away the afternoon with tasty food, sweet confections and great company. Show off your excellent culinary and grilling skills by planning a summertime soiree.

Seating Arrangements

As guests mingle and sip on a refreshing beverage, provide plenty of seating options or quilts for lounging on the lawn. The juiciest conversations at cookouts also happen while standing around the grill and watching the main course cook. Try to place the grill in an open area that invites wandering guests to take a peak or strike up a conversation with the chef.

Picnic Fare

Your feast should include a main course, two or three side dishes, a sweet finale and kid-friendly foods. Fresh fish and seafood are perfect for stepping outside traditional grilling. Even tuna, shark and salmon make wonderful, sumptuous primary courses. Impress your guests with Guy Fieri’s Grilled Tequila Lime Fish Tacos, featured on “Guy’s Big Bites.” Marinated in tequila and topped with cilantro lime crema, the delicate mahi mahi tacos melt in the mouth and burst with subtle flavor. The combination of cumin, crunchy cabbage, crumbled Cotija cheese and hot sauce add texture and taste to delight the palate.

Provide slices of limes and lemon, salsa, crumbled cheese, grated lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and diced green onion tops for people who want to customize their tacos. And no taco cookout is complete without chips and salsa. Toss these ingredients together for a homemade salsa and refrigerate overnight.

• 5-6 Roma Tomatoes (chopped)
• 1 small onion (diced)
• ½ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
• 2 minced Serrano or jalapeño peppers (chopped and seeded)
• 1 clove diced garlic
• 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
• Salt and Pepper

For more cookout ideas and themes, check out “Grilling Central” on FoodNetwork.com to get creative! Or check out DirectSpecialTV.com for cable upgrades so you’ll never miss star chefs Guy Fieri’s or Rachael Ray’s latest and hottest dishes.

Colorful Side Kicks

Go for colorful veggies and fruits. Vine-ripened tomatoes, dark green cucumbers and sweet yellow corn provide vibrant and nutritious side dishes. Complement Fieri’s fish tacos with Rachael Ray’s Raw Corn Salad. The zesty lime flavor with a spicy hot green chili kick will have guests coming back for seconds and thirds.

Cut a watermelon in half lengthwise to make a fun and festive watermelon tub. Scoop out all the melon with a small melon scoop. Toss the melon balls inside with a variety of fresh fruits, including casaba melons, pineapple cubes, strawberries, cantaloupe, mango slices and papaya. Serve your fresh fruit in the melon shell for a beautiful and fun twist on the traditional fruit salad.

Keep color in your desserts as well. Grilled fruit burritos and fresh fruit tarts are easy to make and fun to eat. Dana Treat blogs about her delicious Strawberry Tart dessert that bursts with tangy sweetness. The Sweet Shortcrust Pastry and smooth, tart filling will satisfy the sweet tooth of all your guests.