Time 2 Eat Yall

Walgreens Prescription Savings Club and Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:01:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

While I normally don’t post about medicines per say, I sometime dabble in health on Time 2 Eat Yall. Many of you may already follow Walgreens on Twitter or Walgreens on Facebook and already be up to date. But there are some changes at Walgreens regarding prescriptions that any of you currently relying on Express Plan should know.

Basically Express Scripts (see Walgreens and Express Script press release) and Walgreens no longer work together after unsuccessful negotiations and so the contract expired at the end of 2011. Walgreens wants to continue smoothly without an increase in costs to its customers even if that means they would receive lower reimbursement rates at below the industry average. This goes for all Walgreens pharmacies nationwide including Duane Reade pharmacies in the New York City area.
So if you were on the Express Scripts plan with Walgreens you may want to know the changes that will take place at Walgreens. To minimize disruption and inconvenience, Walgreens has put forth a comprehensive national effort to make the transition as smooth as they can even if that means taking care of you should you be forced to leave Walgreens in order to use Express Scripts in-network coverage.

While this only affects patients with certain prescription plans managed by Express Scripts, I would still suggest either contacting your local Walgreens or checking the back of your prescription card to see if your plans deals with Express Scripts.

Currently, Walgreens is promoting through January personal/family memberships (includes pets) with savings on more than $8,000 brand name and generic medications for $5.00 for an individual and $10.00 for a family as well as annual membership for its Walgreens Prescription Savings Club. This includes discounts on flu shots, diabetic supplies, bonus’s from buying Walgreens brand products for photo services and more.

Buttery Corn Casserole

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:54:00 +0000

I hope your New Year is off to a fantastic start! We took advantage of a lot of down time this past week or so and spent a great deal of family time together. Now that things are starting to get back into a routine I thought I'd share with you a casserole I made to go with the crock pot Pork roast I made on New Years. It's a corn casserole that I found at Taste of Home. It was a hit and everyone was happy to eat up the leftovers (which I think were even better) too. It was fast, easy and right up my alley so that I could relax most of the day!

Ingredients
2 eggs beaten
5 oz can of evaporated milk or regular milk
3 tbsp butter, melted
2 cans of corn, drained
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup of crushed butter flavored cracker crumbs like Ritz or Keebler Club which is what I used
salt/pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Mix everything together with only 2 tbsp of butter and 1/2 cracker crumbs and place in a greased 11x7 dish. Top with remaining bread crumbs and butter. Cook for about 25-30 or until golden brown and bubbly.

Serves 6

Yum.

Open Face Tuna Melt W/Sweet Peppers and Wasabi Mayo

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:57:00 +0000

I made this for hubs and I for lunch the other day. He's not much of a fan of wasabi mayo but I like it. You can use regular mayo as well if you don't dig the zing of the wasabi. We visited amish country recently and came home with a few goodies one of them being the honey wheat loaf which is what I used in this recipe. I sliced mine thick to make it more hearty and filling but you can use whatever bread you like.

What are some of your favorite ways to do a tuna melt?

Ingredients
1 can tuna (per sandwich) mixed with 2 tsp wasabi mayo
1 slice honey wheat bread or bread of choice sliced thick
1 slice swiss cheese
about a small hadfull of red pepper and onion strips sauteed in 2 tsp butter until soft

Directions
Top your bread with tuna then slice cheese. I used one can of tuna for each sandwich. Melt in broiler or oven until cheese melts and bread is slightly crunchy. Top with your onions and peppers and enjoy.

My New Bakery

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:32:00 +0000

This guest post from Doris Dillon

When I started a new small baking business in Clearview, I knew I had to step up my technology game. I was finally out on my own, and doing what I love for a living. I felt a lot of pressure to bring in customers, and keep the business afloat. The last thing I wanted was to fail and have to fire my employees. Before I started my own business I had no idea how much work it takes just to get people in the door! I knew that I had to be accessible to both my customers and employees, and I also needed to put out a great web marketing campaign. The first step in doing this was searching wireless internet Clearview to find the best, most reliable internet service in town. I also needed to have a mobile hotspot so I could work on the go. My next step was to hire a talented web designer and come up with a great marketing campaign. Luckily, things have been going great, and it doesn’t look like the bakery will be closing any time soon. I’m so happy that I used technology to help get me here.

See Disclosure

Homemade Lima Beans

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:02:00 +0000

Beans, Beans good for the Heart, Beans, Beans Make me Fart! Ha, Ha. I remember kids used to say that in school. Anyways, I'm sharing how I do my lima beans today. I love, love lima beans and contrary to many folks I don't soak mine and they still come out great.

My mom used to make these all the time. She'd start them while we were in school or just getting out and by dinner time they'd be awesome!

Here's basically what I do. First every time I make a ham, I save the bone and freeze it. If I don't have a bone on hand I will simply get some ham hocks and throw it in my pot for flavor. I stick that bad boy in a big pot of water than add my lima's (the whole bag of dry beans and I prefer the big ones). I do rinse these just to get out the unwanted sediments etc.

Then a chopped onion goes in.

Then I put it on the stove and start it off at a boil. I then reduce the heat to a low boil and continue to cook until they are nice and soft. You can cover if you wish sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. You also want to stir it here and there but you don't have to baby it. Towards the middle to end of the cooking cycle once my broth starts thickening and getting color I give it a taste.

I add salt first and foremost. Sometimes garlic powder, black pepper or whatever I think it's missing. Ultimately I also add my friends....

Tabasco and Lea and Perrrins! I sometimes even invite Texas Pete into the pot.

I continue to cook until they are nice and soft (a couple hours) but not falling apart too much. I also like my broth nice and fairly thick so it goes great over rice. I personally just eat mine like a soup. Before then I taste it again and add some more of the above or spice to suit my taste.

And then it's happy hour!

Yum to the Yum!

Slim-Fast's Launches Best Tasting Shakes Ever!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have a New Year’s goal to go from now to Wow? You are not alone in that endeavor, trust me.   I’m not setting particular goals per say but I will be taking on the role of a more active lifestyle which means a little more exercise and eating healthier. I’m a big “snacker” so trying to find alternatives for that will be my biggest factor. Many people consider a diet focused on looking great at a specific vent or occasion like a wedding, reunion or vacation. I can certainly relate having been to a wedding in the last year or so however my goal is solely for the health benefits.

I do not ever want to have to sacrifice taste on account of eating healthier or dieting. I like what I like and I guess I’m stubborn in that way. Slim-Fast wants you to know that they have just introduced its richest, creamiest, and best-tasting shakes ever launched in years that comes conveniently in a bottle designed to go everywhere which I think is very appropriate for the brand.

Here’s the run down on this new shake:
*The new Slim-Fast shakes will wow your taste buds, provide up to four hours of hunger control    and offer 10 grams of protein, five grams of fiber and 24 essential vitamins and minerals, making it easier for you to stick to your plan and achieve your weight loss goals.

Flavors available in the new Slim-Fast bottle include:
*Creamy Milk Chocolate
*French Vanilla
* Rich Chocolate Royale
*Cappuccino Delight
*Strawberries N’ Cream

These new Slim-Fast shakes are part of the Slim-Fast 3•2•1 Plan. This plan is pretty flexible so you can probably get the structure you want and the variety you crave all at the same time.

Here’s the plan:
• 3 Snacks: Three nourishing snacks a day such as Slim-Fast 100-calorie snack bars, fruit, nuts or veggies
• Slim-Fast 100-calorie snack bars provide a delicious calorie-controlled snack to help curb sweet cravings between meals
• 2 Slim-Fast Shakes or Meal Bars per day: Slim-Fast shakes and meal bars are delicious and satisfying, providing the balanced nutrition of a meal and up to four hours of hunger control
• 1 Balanced Meal: Enjoy one balanced 500-calorie meal per day. As a rule, try to fill half your plate with veggies, a quarter with protein, and a quarter with whole grains
Availability
• The new Slim-Fast shakes are available in the pharmacy sections of grocers and retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway and Kroger and online at Amazon.com and the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Store on Facebook.

What product from the plan are you most excited to try? I’m a sucker for strawberries, so for me I’d have to go with the Strawberries N’ Cream!   I really like the rule of thumb on filling your plate too which for some, portion control is half of the battle.

Marzetti Simply Dressed #CleverSalads #CleverMarzetti

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:40:00 +0000

When I was younger I was never much of a salad person like I am today. Today, I can eat salad anytime, anywhere and it most certainly has to have dressing! My husband first turned me onto blue cheese dressing and I’ve been hooked ever since. Before I'd always go the Ranch route and never veered much. While I still like Ranch, I now like to try all sorts of dressings. You never know what you might be missing! In fact I like blue cheese dressing so much that I “finger lick” it! Can you admit that you "finger lick" your dressing too or am I just the odd one?

Now one thing I’ve learned is that not all dressing is created equally. I’ve had my fair share of never buy again versions, homemade versions, and then a few hits in between too.

Most recently I got to try a new line of dressing by Marzetti called Simply Dressed and the one I ended up picking out was Blue Cheese. I had a few apprehensions of which one to choose since all of the varieties sounded very good but thought I’d give the old stand by a whirl.

One of my favorite salads to have with blue cheese is quite basic and consists of iceberg lettuce, red onions and crisp bacon bits (when I'm not eating hot wings). I was very surprised at how good this dressing was and is on my list to buy again. It has a great consistency that’s not too runny or too thick. It also has some great blue cheese chunks (the more the merrier) that give it a great texture and it’s refrigerated at the store which I prefer for blue cheese versus sitting on the aisle unrefrigerated. It also has a buttermilk taste with touches of garlic that make this a great tasting dressing.

Any of the Marzetti Simply Dressed flavors could add some pizzazz to your holiday meals. There's ten great new flavors to choose from for those holiday recipes/salads that consist of Ranch, Caesar, Pomegranate, Cole Slaw, Balsalmic, Champagne (I really want to try this one too!), Strawberry Poppyseed, Greek Feta, Ginger Sesame, and of course Blue Cheese. You can find these at your local grocery fresh produce section for convenience and added freshness!

These retail for about $3.59-$4.59 per 12-ounce bottle. To find a store near you that carries it, simply visit www.marzetti.com/where-to-buy/. In addtion to fresh-tasting this line is without any preservatives, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, MSG or artificial flavors or colors. It's also made with a minimal number of all-natural and simple ingredients such as extra virgin olive oil, canola oil (source of Omega-3 ALA) and sea salt!

What's your favorite flavor of salad dressing? Have you tried the Marzetti's Simply Dressed yet? I also have a great recipe from a fellow blogger for Buffalo Blue Cheese dip that will knock your socks off! I can't wait to try it with Marzetti's Blue Cheese!

Do you make any great dishes using salad dressing? If so I'd love to hear your ideas!

I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Simply Dressed review. They provided me with product to test myself and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.

Cream Cheese and Chive Mashed Potatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:30:00 +0000

We love potatoes around here and it also ranks up there among my comfort foods too - only homemade. Whether you whip or mash your potatoes it's quite a filling side dish that's sure to satisfy and goes with so many foods. I made this the other night with a beef roast that I did in the crock pot. Here's what I did:

Ingredients
About 2 lbs potatoes peeled, and quartered (I eyeball it)
1/2 cup milk
1 block of 8 ounce cream cheese room temp
fresh diced green onions (to taste - about 1/4 to 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup ranch dressing
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Cook potatoes in just enough water to cover for about 20 minutes or until just soft. You'll want to start them off with a boil then reduce heat to medium. Drain when done.

Meanwhile in a medium sized bowl fold in your green onions into your cream cheese. I then add the potatoes in the with the cream cheese and onion (or use same pot) and smash with a potato masher.

I like mine just a tad on the chunky side. While doing so add your remaining ingredients folding them in well.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Yum to the Yum.

Serves 10

Karo Syrup - New Year's Eve Recipe Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:42:00 +0000

Holiday presents don't need to be store bought or expensive to be meaningful. Homemade gifts are perfect for gift-giving and spreading holiday cheer. This year, Karo has partnered with Chicago pastry chef and cookbook author Sarah Levy to create delicious treats that are the perfect gift to give this holiday season.

Karo Syrup wants to celebrate all holiday baking recipes including yours! Folks who share their favorite recipe to bake in Karo's Recipe Sweepstakes are entered to win a special New Year's Eve package in Chicago, including a two-night stay at the Wit Hotel, dinner at Mastro's Steakhouse and a chocolate tour! That sounds divine doesn't it? I would love to win a vacation!

To grab all the details, visit the "Tis the Season" tab at www.Facebook.com/KaroSyrup to share your recipe and enter to win this fabulous trip and see some of Sarah Levy's favorite holiday recipes.

"Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Karo Syrup prize package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place. All opinions are my own."

Betty Crocker's Holiday Trends

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Happy Holidays Time-2-Eaters! Right about now, you´re probably gearing up for a wonderful holiday season filled with great family, great friends, and of course, great food!
Wants some inspiration in the kitchen? Check out Betty Crocker´s Red Hot Holiday Trends 2011! The food experts at Betty Crocker have selected trends that will be red hot this holiday season, and have created delicious recipes to bring each one to life. These fun and delicious recipes are sure to fire up any holiday event, and keep you toasty and warm for the New Year ahead.

	Trend: Double Desserts Taking two desserts and mixing and mashing them together is one of our favorite trends. Things like pie shakes, cookie stuffed cookies, and pie-filled cupcakes deliver a whole new kind of delicious. It´s a 1+1=3 kind of thing. Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cookies Pie, meet cookie. Cookie, say hello to pie. When two all-time favorites come together, you get Pumpkin Pie Cookies, the star at your next holiday cookie exchange.

	Trend: Boozy Baking From booze cakes to cocktail pies, bakers everywhere are bringing the bar into the kitchen. A titch of tequila or a skosh of scotch whiskey adds a serious shot of fun and flavor for the over 21 crowd. We´re loving these boozy baked goods! Recipe: Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes Taste for yourself what the buzz is all about! A bit of bourbon, a hit of coffee liqueur and some vanilla vodka-spiked frosting make these sophisticated chocolate cupcakes the ultimate "holiday helpers."

	Trend: Color. Flavor. Fun. Traditional baked goods are being transformed with bright colors and playful flavors. With a little creativity and imagination, no one can resist this happy, fun food! Recipe: Cake Batter Cookie Stackers Take sugar cookies to a whole new level of delicious! Kids and adults will love these cake batter flavored cookies with colorful frosting, and lots of sprinkles! Stack `em up and watch `em go.

	Trend: From Cave to Kitchen Forget the man cave. Today guys are in the kitchen making (or at least appreciating) really good food. Big food. Really good, big food that´s stacked and stuffed with the flavors they can´t resist. Recipe: Mantastic Fried Chicken `n´ Waffle Sandwich Here´s a new take on chicken `n´ waffles - made better with beer, bacon, and bourbon. It´s the ultimate manly man meal.

	Trend: Skinny Cocktails Here´s the skinny! Drinking high-calorie cocktails is so last year. The modern mixologist is shaking things up with light & flavorful cocktails. Recipe: Skinny Clementine Martini Add some clever sparkle to your next party. Enjoy these natural, light martinis made with fresh juice, high-quality liquor, and a splash of club soda. Lower calorie cocktails never tasted, or looked, so sweet. Cheers!

	Trend: Better Than Bought From canning to candy making, there´s a renewed interest in handcrafted foods. This season, homemade food gifts are just the right thing to show your care and creativity. Recipe: Cajeta Caramel Fudge Create the perfect combination of flavor and crunch with this homemade candy. Rich chocolate fudge layered with cajeta caramel, cashews and a sprinkle of sea salt-a recipe to impress.

	Trend: Veggie Love Once just tolerated, vegetables are now celebrated. Omnivores and herbivores alike have discovered that veggies offer variety and great taste, and are feeling the love. Recipe: Sweet Potato Hummus Hummus with fresh sweet potato packs even more plant power. Add a delicious blend of smoked paprika, coriander, and cumin to make this flavorful dip.

	Trend: Shareworthy & Allergen-Friendly Allergen-friendly foods may be free from things like nuts, dairy and eggs, but shouldn´t be free from flavor. Thankfully, we´re seeing new foods and recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone - whether you´re allergy-sensitive or not. Recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread Gather everyone around the table to enjoy this moist and delicious pumpkin bread. Made with no nuts, no dairy, no eggs, and no gluten - no kidding!

	Trend: D-I-Y for D-O-G Man´s best friend deserves man´s best effort. That´s why making your own dog food is one of the latest canine crazes! This year, homemade dog treats are at the top of fido´s list. Recipe: Dog Bark This treat will make your dog sit up and beg for more. Make the bark by melting carob chips and peanut butter then top with your dog´s favorite ingredients - bacon and cheese. Bow WOW!

	Trend: Food Craft The kitchen is the new craft room. With food as their medium, clever cooks are making amazing edible food crafts that are as good to look at as they are to eat. Recipe: Chocolate Coal Lumps Naughty or nice, everyone will love these easy cho-coal-late treats. Cocoa Puffs® cereal dipped in melted chocolate and marshmallows create these tasty stocking stuffers.

If you have the chance to try some of these hot holiday trends with your family or friends, I'd love to know which ones you tried!

Discloseure - I received details for the above post from Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark!

Mrs. Renfro's Review/Giveaway CLOSED

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:14:00 +0000

Most of you who have read the blog for awhile know how much of a snack/appetizer junkie I am. We are equally football fans as well and love to try new things for game day some of which are indeed salsas. I recently tried Mrs. Renfro’s salsa which I let the family test drive on football Sunday. They proved to be a hit! I tried four equally unique flavors: Tequila Salsa, Chipotle Corn, Garlic Salsa and Ghost Pepper Salsa.

The Ghost Pepper Salsa (made from the hottest pepper in the world) is one of their newest and hottest salsas. I like heat so I was game for trying this and indeed it’s that hot! So hot in fact that the little one didn't try it at all. I eventually added this salsa to a cheese dip to help tame the heat and even then it was still that hot! I can certainly see why they won awards with this one. This is a salsa for those who thrive for the heat and like to live on the edge!

The favorite of my little one (who doesn’t care for heat) was the Tequila Salsa (Tequila, lime juice, salt) which is indeed made with Tequila. I actually thought this one had a sweet taste without any hint of heat at all. I think it’s a great tasting salsa for those who can’t do medium or mild.

My personal favorite was the Garlic Salsa (fresh garlic and fire-roasted garlic puree). This is just the perfect concoction of all things I like in salsa. The garlic is tasty but not overpowering. It’s not too sweet and not too hot. It was also the flavor that disappeared first!

The Chipotle Corn Salsa (Fresh onion, corn, chipotle and ancho peppers) has a nice smoky flavor to it. I think this is a good one for those who want to switch things up a bit and stray from the average salsa flavor. I think this would be a good candidate for many of Mrs. Renfro's recipes.

All of these have the right amount of juice, chunk and flavor to them and are equally great to add into your favorite dishes. You can also take a peak at the many different recipes in which you can experiment with in the kitchen using the different salsas.

Giveaway - One lucky reader will win Mrs Renfro's salsas (4 flavors) of their very own of any flavor they wish! Giveaway ends 12/15/2011 at midnight EST and winner will be chosen via random.org.

Winner choateorama@......
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Disclosure - I received the above mentioned item. The opinions expressed are my own.

Creamy Broccoli Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:14:00 +0000

I'm in love with broccoli soup. More so when it has cheese in it like this recipe. Although I'm not a fan of carrots, I can totally dig them when they are used to enhance or sweeten a dish as long as I don't have to taste them too much. I think that just stems from my childhood! A fast, good comfort soup that's easy to make and requires little ingredients was just what the doctor ordered. I needed a break from all the Thanksgiving leftovers so I made this soup. Perfect for a cool rainy day! I found this recipe at cdkitchen which has a bunch of recipes submitted by regular folks like you and me. It's supposedly supposed to be like Panera breads soup however, I have never ate there (if you can believe it) so I can't vouch for that. But they just built one in my area so I may have to give it a whirl! I also took advice from some of the comments and added a nab of Dijon mustard to mine as well.

Ingredients
1 tbsp butter
1 small onion choppped
1/4 cup butter
1/4 flour
2 cups milk or half n half
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 lb broccoli chopped (I used frozen)
1 cup carrots julienne (cut like matchsticks)
8 ounces shredded cheese (I used Mexican blend but any cheddar would do)

Extras - 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp dijon mustard, s/p, garlic powder

Directions
Saute onion in 1 tbsp of butter and set aside. In a soup pot, melt 1/4 cup butter and whisk 1/4 flour over med heat creating a rue. This should get a golden browned color and should take about 3-5 minutes.

Add 2 cups milk and the 2 cups chicken stock to the rue and whisk frequently simmering 20 minutes. Then add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook on low until the vegetables are tender about 20 minutes. At this point the soup should have started thickening some. You may want to season it with salt/pepper or wait until you've added the cheese. I also added in a dash of garlic powder (not too much).

Pour in blender and puree. I was able to get my whole batch in and blend it nicely. Return this mixture to the pot and over low heat gradually add in your cheese in batches. Stirring it in as it melts.

At this point you may want to season it with nutmeg and Dijon.

I liked how it turned out but if it's too thick, you can add a little extra milk to it as the cheese does thicken it quite a bit.

Huddle to Fight Hunger Giveaway ENDED #KraftFightHunger

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:30:00 +0000

It’s finally fall (feels like it too), which means football season and tailgating season is here! I love making up football foods for the games, tailgating and grilling! Kraft Foods is working to bring together everyone’s favorite fall themes – football and food – in an effort to help fight a worthy cause, hunger and help in spreading awareness for this cause!

The “Huddle To Fight Hunger,”campaign kicked off in 2010 and raised 21 million meals through the support of passionate football fans and community members. This year, Kraft Foods’ Huddle to Fight Hunger community is on a mission to donate the monetary equivalent of 25 million meals to Feeding America.

By “Liking” the Kraft Foods’ Huddle to Fight Hunger Facebook page and playing the interactive game “2-Minute Trivia Drill,” you will be helping donate one meal to Feeding America. Each online meal donation will be put toward reaching the 2011 campaign goal of donating 25 million meals to the program! The game also encourages you to donate your meal directly to a local community food bank; all you have to do is enter your zip code.

To tie together the spirit of food and football season with the fight against hunger, Time 2 Eat Yall is having a Huddle to Fight Hunger Tailgate giveaway! The winner will receive a Tailgate kit which includes all the essentials you need to “kick-off” your football party the right way and is valued at $110. Tailgate kit includes:

· A Weber Smokey Mini Grill

· A Charcoal Companion 4- Piece Chef BBQ Tool Set

· A Coleman 3-in-1 outdoors blanket

· Hot off the presses: New cookbook by the Neelys

To enter the giveaway, I encourage you to "like" http://www.facebook.com/KraftFightHunger?sk=info and play the two-minute trivia drill which in turn donates one meal to Feeding America!

Giveaway ends December 6, 2011 at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org.

GIVEAWAY ENDED

WINNER - carolkf...@comcast.net

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Disclosure - Kraft Foods is providing the prize for this program at no cost to me and I received a prize pack of equal value for my time. This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by me.

Fun Fall Treats - Chocolate Acorns

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:09:00 +0000

I have seen this special treat on numerous blogs in the blogosphere and thought it was the cutest little treat. But I saw it first on Chapel Hill to Chickenville who originally found this in Family Fun magazine. So, that's how popular it is.

It's also easy. I made up a bunch of these and they were gone in no time.

All you will need is:
mini nilla wafers or small quarter sized cookie
frosting any kind
pretzels (broken bits is okay) or small little chocolate chips
Hershey kisses

To make them all you do is spread some frosting on the underside of the nilla wafer and stick the bottom of an unwrapped kiss to the wafer. Put a dot of frosting on the top of your wafer and stick a small piece of broken pretzel to it and voila.

Aren't they cute?!

The Best Creamed Corn

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:51:00 +0000

I normally don't say this is the best because I may not have tried the best yet. However, with this particular dish, I can say that thus far this is the. best. cream. corn. ever!

I first made this years ago back when Paula Dean was just getting popular on Food Network and put out her magazine (which is where I got this recipe 2008). I made it to go along with our Christmas dinner one year but have never made it since because I had caught a bug from work and upchucked every thing I ate that Christmas! It was awful.

Nonetheless, it took some time before I'd give creamed corn a try or anything else I made that day. But, what I do remember is that it was just as country and down-home tasting as you can get. So, with corn being in prime season here in NE Ohio, I picked up a few ears to give it another whirl.

I was delighted as it turned out just as wonderful as I remembered. I've had many creamed corn dishes in my day with my grandparents having had a farm and all but something about this one is just scrumptious.

Here's the recipe of Paula Dean's Just like Grandma's Creamed Corn and here is a link to the site where you can find it as well. Oh, and did I mention that it's easy, has a small ingredient list, and is quick? Got to love that!

From Cooking with Paula Deen, Quick and Easy 2008
Ingredients
(I halved this recipe since I only had 4 ears except for the heavy cream)
5 slices of bacon chopped
1 onion chopped (I used a sweet onion)
2 cloves garlic minced
1/4 cup all purpose flour
4 cups or 8 ears fresh corn kernels
2 cups heavy whipping cream
chives if desired for garnish and taste

Directions
Fry bacon and set aside reserving 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in pan (I used a little more). Add onion and garlic to skillet, cook on med-high until soft and tender (about 5 min).

Next, stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes stirring constantly. Then add your corn and cook for 2 minutes as well stirring frequently. Add cream and bring to a boil over medium heat then reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes until corn is tender and cream is thickened. Top with crumbled bacon and chives.

Here's how yummy it looks..........

If you love corn. You'll love this!

Healthy dinner tonight: Vegetable Barley Soup with Poached Egg

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:13:00 +0000

This is a very healthy recipe made from vegetables and eggs. The vegetables used add more fiber to the soup. One serving of the soup supplies about 300 calories, so it is quite satiating. It is also quite nourishing. The shitake mushrooms used are packed with vitamins and minerals; they are also abundant in selenium, zinc, and niacin. The poached egg increases protein content of the meal. The soup provides about 10 grams of protein and fiber.

Complexity level: Easy

Time taken: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Shiitake mushrooms (1 pound)

Baby spinach (1 bunch, medium sized)

Barley (1.5 cups)

Onion (2, medium sized)

Tomatoes (4, medium sized)

Garlic (4 cloves)

Olive oil (4 tablespoons)

Thyme (2 teaspoons)

Vegetable stock or broth (2 qts)

White vinegar (optional)

Eggs (optional)

Process

Chop the onion and garlic cloves finely. Add oil to a skillet or saucepan and reduce the heat to medium. Throw in the chopped onion and garlic. Cook them till they soften and turn brown, this will take about 10 minutes. While the onions soften, you can dice the other vegetables. Cut the stem of the mushrooms and slash the caps into thin slices. You can also roast the tomatoes and keep them ready. Just rub them with olive oil and garlic, and then pop in the oven.

When the onions have browned, add in the mushrooms and thyme. It will take about 5 minutes for the mushrooms to cook through, keep stirring the mix in the meantime. After the mushrooms have cooked, add in the barley, vegetable stock, and tomatoes. Then you need to sprinkle some salt and pepper into the broth. Allow it to simmer and stir a few times. It should be cooked until the barley is well done, this can take around 12 minutes. Now add in the spinach and some seasoning if required. Cook for another minute or two and turn off the heat.

Now you have to prepare the eggs for the soup. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 quart of water and bubble the concoction. Throw in salt and break an egg in a cup or plate. Very gently, slide it into the simmering water. Add only one egg at a time. Make sure that there is enough space in between the eggs when they are floating on the simmering water. Steam the eggs till their white turns solid and the yolks remain slightly runny. This should take about 2-3 minutes. Now carefully, lift the eggs with a pair of tongs or a wooden ladle. Sit them in a plate or bowl and then, dole out the soup in a bowl. Top it with the poached eggs and serve hot.

Tips

The soup is quite filling and weight watchers will love it for supper, surely your appetite for dinner will reduce after you eat the soup.

If you are a vegetarian or looking to cut down on cholesterol intake then whip up the soup without the eggs.

Combine the soup with white wines, which are intense and fruity.

About the author: Alia Haley is a blogger and writer. She loves writing on luxury and health. Beside this she is fond of automobiles. These days she is busy in writing an article on apple recipes.

Types of life insurance and what to expect

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:56:00 +0000

Image by photon_de via Flickr

Life insurance is essential to those that wish to protect the needs of their families. In the event of an accident, you can fall back on the fact that you know your family will be covered financially.

This assurance alone is well worth the fixed monthly payments you may have to contend with. Those that invest in such a policy can chose from a variety of options. For example they can choose a cover that solely protects their mortgage or another policy that provides protection and cover to their family in the case of an incident or accident.

A life insurance policy provides financial stability to your family in the event of a death. This repayment could be used to cover the cost of an existing mortgage or alternatively provide an income to your family, which will cover the likes of everyday necessities including bills and general day-to-day essentials. Such a cover can protect either a single life or alternatively it can be invested in as a joint cover.

Other things that can be added to such a cover include the likes of critical illness cover. For example, if you were suddenly met with a bill for a serious illness then the insurance would foot this bill.

Monthly costs can be set at a fixed rate, which is great news for those that prefer the same amount to leave their account each month. It will also make you keep that little bit extra back for this payment. By simply selecting guaranteed premiums this option can set up.

For such a small amount a month, this cover is really worthwhile investing in as if anything were to happen, you know your family won’t be facing a struggle and will instead be financially covered.

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Torani's Authentic Coffeehouse Flavor @shespeaksup #SSTorani

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:54:00 +0000

Most of you know how much I love (and need) coffee! I'm a cream and sugar girl all the way but I do love dropping in to a coffee house for a specialty blend. What I didn't know (or at least hadn't tried) is that you can buy Torani at your local grocery store and mix up your own concoction to have the coffee shop taste right at home. Even more so is that you don't have to have a special machine or gadget to do so. Just mix Torani flavored syrups with your favorite coffee and a little milk!

About Torani:

Since 1925, family-owned Torani has been crafting great tasting flavored syrups that coffeehouses use to make their flavored drinks taste so delicious. With over 120 flavors in regular and sugar free varieties, Torani flavored syrups are perfect for flavored lattes, mochas, coffees, cocoas, Italian sodas, teas, lemonades, cocktails and smoothies. Coffeehouse professionals choose Torani flavors because they are expertly crafted and made with the highest quality ingredients, like natural flavors and pure cane sugar. The sugar free flavors have no calories and are sweetened with Splenda. Now, Torani Flavored Syrups are widely available at retail so you can easily create authentic coffeehouse quality drinks at home.

Torani flavors aren't just for coffee; they are great for mixed drinks, teas and more with over 122 flavors to choose from!

Popular Drink Types for Syrups:
Flavored Coffees/Espresso Drinks (Most popular drink type for flavored syrups)
Italian Sodas
Flavored Tea (Hot and Cold)
Flavored Lemonades
Flavored Sodas (Coca-Cola, Mountain Dew, etc)
Cocktails
Mocktails
Flavored Energy drinks (Red Bull)

Where to Buy Torani Flavored Syrups (US):
Walmart
World Market
BevMo
Cost Plus
most major grocery stores
Amazon
Torani.com
Shop.Torani.com

I feel like I became a bit of a mixologist when trying out theTorani flavors. The family and I tried Brown Sugar Cinnamon and Peppermint! I found a couple other flavors to try (Chocolate Mint and Almond Roca) at my local Buehlers grocery store which retailed for about $6.99 each.

I put on a light brunch style breakfast and let everyone experiment and try the varieties. I loved the Peppermint which goes perfect for this time of year in hot chocolate! You have to try this! It's like candy canes in your cocoa which I liked better than in my coffee. When I make brownies over the holidays, I'm going to add a dash or two of this to the mix and throw on some crushed candy canes for a festive treat.

The Brown Sugar Cinnamon flavor (smells wonderful) that I tried was sugar free. I personally thought that it had more of a cinnamon flavor versus sweet but definitely a great add in to coffee for a festive treat. I made a Tornai Cinnamon Roll Latte which is a splash of Tornai Brown Sugar syrup, 1 cup milk and 1/4 cup expresso only I used a regular cup coffee and less milk.
For recipes like this on what you at home can experiment with, visit the Torani website! There's a ton of recipes from all of the 122 flavors. I found a few great ones for the Chocolate Mint syrup and Almond Roca too which were also delightful!

Have you tried Torani syrups?

Disclosure - I received Torani to try as well as information and recipes via SheSpeaks. All opinions are 100% my own.

libre tea giveaway CLOSED

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:09:00 +0000

Tea lover? When my brother comes to visit, I make sure I have some new teas for him to try. I pass along some of my favorites for him to try. While everyone else is drinking coffee, he is sipping fresh tea.

I had the opportunity to try out the very cool libre tea glass for on-the-go. It's so cool that I'm considering these as gifts for the holidays!

The libre loose leaf tea glass (for on-the-go) is awesome. It has a beautiful gold and silver detailed design that's very snazzy. The (thermal interior) glass itself is clear and is a dream to wash. The bottle fits easy in a cup holder and has a removable filter for fresh tea anywhere plus, it's leak-proof. Another great feature is while your tea stays warm, the outside glass (glass n poly) is cool to the touch.

Keep this in mind this holiday season. The librea tea glass would make a great little stocking stuffer!

For more information or to stay in the tea loop be sure to check them out on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/LibreTea, or sign up for their newsletter at www.libretea.com , or even follow follow them on Twitter @libretea

One lucky reader will win their very own libra tea glass which is shown above! Winner will be chosen via random.org and the giveaway ends 11/16/11 at 11:59 pm EST. Giveaway open to US and Canada only.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Disclosure - I received the above mentioned item. The opinions expressed are my own.

Macy's #RecipeShare Contest!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:59:00 +0000

Have a great holiday recipe to share that you've just been itching to show off? There's no better time than now to share your favorite holiday recipe. SheSpeaks has teamed up with Macy's and their Recipe Share Contest! With the Macys Recipe Share Contest you have a chance to win $1000 and have your recipe featured on Food Republic.

You can submit and vote but you'll have until November 30th when the contest ends to show off your best holiday recipes so get cooking!

Here's the simple way to get entered:

1. Head to www.facebook.com/macys
2. Click the Recipe Share tab
3. Submit your recipe
4. Share the contest via Facebook and Twitter

And, if you like to par-tay, be sure to RSVP for the Twitter par-tay!

When: 11/9 @ 8PM ET - Tonight!!
TweetGrid Dashboard: http://bit.ly/tn7IQR
Follow: #RecipeShare
RSVP bitly.com/sYftgI

Just in case you didn't know....

Macy's was established in 1858 and is the Great American Department Store - an iconic retail brand with over 800 stores across the country and online at macys.com. Macy's offers an incredible selection and the best brands, tailored to each and every customer, while providing an experience that transcends ordinary shopping. Be on the look out for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade which will be creeping on us soon!

Disclosure - This post brought to you by your friends at SheSpeaks and Macy's to help spread the word!

enLiven Probiotic Yogurt Giveaway CLOSED

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:34:00 +0000

If you haven't heard of enLiven yogurt; it's exclusively at Walmart. enLiven is a low cost, all-natural yogurt and is available in four flavors; strawberry, blueberry, peach and vanilla. In addition it's 99% fat-free (110 calories per serving), contains no artificial flavors or coloring.

enLiven yogurt features Ganeden BC30 probiotics which studies show help form a protective layer that shields from stomach acids and basically helps support over all digestive health.

I tried the strawberry and blueberry flavors and thought the texture was very soft and creamy and the the taste was just what I want out of a yogurt. It's not too sweet or too bland. It has just the right amount of everything.

Giveaway - 5 lucky readers will win a Free Item coupon to try the yogurt for themselves! US Only please!

GIVEAWAY ENDED

Disclosure - I was given information to facilitate this post. The opinions expressed are my own.

Mexican Corn Dip

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:20:00 +0000

I've been on a dip kick and I can't seem to stop myself! I just love dips. Here's one I make for Football Sunday every now and again when I want something a little different. Don't worry, your kitchenaid food processor parts won't get dirty with this dip. All you'll need is some spoons because it's easy like that!

Ingredients
1 can corn drained or you can use canned Mexican corn
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayo
2 - 3 tsp onion minced
2 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded or Mexican cheese blend
1 tbsp worchestershire sauce
1 can green chillies
garlic powder
dash of tobasco or two
salt/pepper to taste

Directions
Simply mix all together in a bowl and serve in a pretty dish if you wish along with your favorite chips!

I had a few bites of this dip after I made it but shortly after sticking it in the refrigerator it disappeared. Hubs apparantly had a small lunch so by the time he got home, he was starved. And you guessed it. He ate the rest of this dip!

Cheesy Lasagna Roll-Ups

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:15:00 +0000

Back in High School there was some function where us kids brought in a dish. One of my friends, Megan, brought in Lasagna Roll-Ups made with sausage. We all loved them and ate them up! Everyone one wanted to know how she did it (or her mom). To our surprise it was very easy to make. Today I make mine mostly with hamburger meat and a lot of cheese ;) Take a peek - you just might love it too!

Ingredients

Ricotta Mixture
Tub of Ricotta
1 egg
Parsley
Parmesan Cheese - (about a quarter cup or so - I save extra Parmesan for the topping too)

Hamburger Mixture
Hamburger cooked - (about a lb, I season mine also)
Your favorite spaghetti sauce - (1 jar or can)

Other Cheeses & noodles
5 Cheese Italian Blend - Shredded
Mozzarella Cheese - Shredded
Sliced Swiss - 4 oz (I used 1 slice for each piece, just cut in 2)
Lasagna Noodles - cooked - (I used 8 noodles)

Directions
Cook your hamburger and drain grease. Then add your spaghetti sauce to it. In another pot boil your noodles according to package directions. When that's done, drain noodles and add cold water so they don't become sticky. Preheat oven to 350. Meanwhile mix your Ricotta cheese mixture. Now you are ready for rolling. I lay all my ingredients out in front of me to make it easy.

I layer first Ricotta, then my hamburger mixture, then the Italian cheese blend and only a little of the mozzarella (I save most of that for the top) and then your swiss cheeses. Then roll them up.

I put a layer of sauce in a casserole dish before I add the Lasagna pieces.

Once you are done rolling up the lasagna, I put leftover sauce on the top and extra cheese!

Bake until your cheese are melted nicely and a little golden brown - about 25 minutes depending on your oven.

Enjoy the Cheesy Goodness!!

At the Office

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:59:00 +0000

The Author of this post is Rory Reilly

My boss asked me to look into getting an alarm system for our office. The area that we are located in has always felt pretty safe, but recently, some of the warehouses that are located near our office have been broken into. The police haven’t been able to find any suspects for the burglaries, but came to talk to everyone who had a business in the area. They suggested that we seriously consider getting an alarm system because they are great deterrents. The warehouses that had been broken into recently did not have security systems. I logged onto home-alarm-systems.com and looked into getting a system. I was actually pretty surprised that the systems and the monitoring were not nearly as expensive as I had thought that they were. The price was definitely something that would not increase our monthly overhead by much. My boss and I did the math and decided that the investment in a security system was definitely worth it. We can’t afford a break-in!

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UK - Holland and Barrett Health Food/Vitamin Needs

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:43:00 +0000

It's always nice to find healthier eating options available especially online for those who may not be able to physically hunt for their specific diet needs. If you live in the UK and are on the hunt for health food, 5htp vitamins, gluten free, dried fruit etc then check out Holland and Barrett. This is a UK based company that is the leading retailer in vitamins, herbal supplements, minerals. They specialize in quality assurance and is even a "green" store. I've been considering reintroducing vitamins in my life and have found not only product on their site but information, ingredients and more. I like the idea of knowing exactly what I'd be getting. They also have quite a wide product range whether you're looking for nuts, teas, cereals or even simple advice which I find very convenient.

Under their Current Offers section you can check out the best current deals that are available. Right now they have a penny sale which is where you buy one item and get the second for a penny. You don't have to be on a special diet like gluten free or be taking vitamin supplements for instance to take advantage of the site, in fact I was actually surprised to see deodorant, hair color, and even body creams. It's always nice to find more stores specializing in alternatives with variety even in the UK. It just goes to show you that the need is growing for alternatives in food, supplements and vitamins.

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