Easter Peeps Giveaway!

March 28, 2014 by Samantha 45 Comments

Disclosure- I participated in this campaign on behalf of Peeps And Company. I received promotional items to facilitate this review and as a thank you item for participating. All opinions are my own and honest. See I Disclose Tab if you would like more information.

My son just loves Peeps. My grandmother has always loved them as well, so I always buy a ton as soon as they hit shelves and get them both a wide variety of Marshmallow Chicks and Marshmallow Bunnies. While Peeps are great for Easter baskets, they are also a fun reminder of spring in general, and my son, husband, and grandmother eat them pretty constantly until there are none left.

I love the new additions that they have this year, and honestly didn’t make anyone wait until Easter to try them all out. There are new Birthday Cake Peeps, chocolate mousse dipped in chocolate chicks, dark chocolate- not to mention the multi-colored Peeps Marshmallow Bunny and chocolate egg complete with a Peeps Chick in it. There are also new candies- they are chocolate candies with marshmallow centers. They are individually wrapped and come by the bagful.
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Filed Under: food, giveaway, holidays, review Tagged With: easter, food, Peeps

Joe’s Crab Shack

March 27, 2014 by Samantha 11 Comments

Eat At Joe’s!

It’s a timeless phrase, and for those of who have eaten at Joe’ s, it will make your mouth water and a smile creep across your face. Joe’ s Crab Shack has over 120 locations across the country and more springing up everyday. We recently had the opportunity to Eat At Joe’ s and had a wonderful evening of seafood and fun.

Joe’ s serves seafood, surprise surprise! They are best known for their steam pots of crab, seafood, corn and potatoes. Each pot is themed to a specific taste. Some examples are The Orleans, which include one pound of craw fish, shrimp and andouille sausage with a touch of spice. The Ragin’ Cajun takes the spice up a notch with Pacific Dungeness crab Queen crab, shrimp, and andouille sausage. The Sam Adams Steam pot takes a pound of clams, lobster claws, and smoked sausage all boiled in a (not spicy at all) Sam Adams lager. Steam pots are not the only items on the menu, there is a plethora of other options seafood and land loving as well. From burgers to shrimp platters, there is something for everyone. There is even a kids menu with seafood and non-aquatic as well.
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Filed Under: food, review Tagged With: dinner, eating out, food, restaurants

The Great Cholesterol Myth Cookbook

March 19, 2014 by Samantha 1 Comment

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About The Great Cholesterol Myth Cookbook:

Publication Date- November 15, 2013

Publisher- Fair Winds Press

For decades, low-fat and low-cholesterol diets have been touted as the way to prevent and reverse heart disease. In the groundbreaking book, The Great Cholesterol Myth, Jonny Bowden and Stephen Sinatra debunked that assertion, arguing that fat—often curtailed on traditional low cholesterol “heart-healthy” diets—is not the enemy and may in fact be part of the solution. Now, in The Great Cholesterol Myth Cookbook, the authors and nutrition expert and whole foods chef Deirdre Rawlings, Ph.D., put their findings into action with a detailed meal plan and 100 delicious and nutritious recipes that will prevent and reverse heart disease and give you back the foods you thought were gone forever.

Brilliant Eats:

Sweet and Spicy Beef or Chicken Stir Fry
Veal Scaloppini Supreme
Energizing Thai Spice Chicken Salad
Luscious Lemon- Pineapple Yogurt Cake
Hearty Hazelnut Rounds

What I Loved About It:

The book had amazing reference material about how a diet low in sugar and inflammatory foods and ingredients that are high in healthy fats, protien, antioxidants and key nutrients is the best course of action to prevent and reverse heart disease. My favorite section was “Foods For A Healthy Heart”. I learned that Sugar, Processed Foods, Trans Fat, and Processed Meats are the enemies when eating for a healthy heart. It gave you a detailed summary of exactly why these types of foods were bad for you and things to look for. Did you know that just because a label boasts “zero trans fat” that doesn’t mean it actually is? If you read the label and it has the words “partially hydrogenated” the product has trans fat and needs to be put back. Labels are your best friend and you need to read them carefully!
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Filed Under: cooking, food, health Tagged With: cookbook, health

Yogurt Panna Cotta with Strawberry Coulis

March 12, 2014 by Samantha 7 Comments

This creamy, delightful, easy to make panna cotta (Italian for “cooked cream”) is also quite impressive.

The use of yogurt instead of the traditional cream makes this dessert as light as air and also adds a

refreshing acidic punch that goes perfectly with fruit. Let the season guide your choice of fruit, from

kiwi, to raspberries or blackberries. You can make the panna cotta in a large, family-style container or

in elegant individual servings. You can also prepare it a day ahead of your dinner party and simply cover

and place in the refrigerator until needed.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

½ cup whole milk

½ cup sugar, plus additional, if needed

1 ½ gelatin sheets, dissolved in enough cold water

to cover

1 ½ cups plain, full-fat yogurt, strained in a
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Filed Under: baking, food, recipes Tagged With: food, italian food

How-‐to Make a Quick and Easy Romantic Pasta Dinner in Under 30 Minutes

March 11, 2014 by Samantha 4 Comments

Menu: Rigatoni Florentine with Wild Mushrooms and Toasted Walnuts, green salad with cherry tomatoes, chocolate-dipped strawberries, Champagne and espresso.

This is an easy, elegant and romantic dinner that can be thrown together very quickly. To save even more time, look for fresh, pre-washed and pre-sliced produce.

The key to a creating a romantic dinner is to appeal to all five of the senses…sight, sound, touch, smell and, of course, taste. Get these elements right and the rest is easy. This article shows you exactly how to get the details right without any fuss.

Just follow the lead of the Italians, and Saint Valentine in particular (San Valentino, Roman saint of courtly love) by slowing down, savoring the moment and enjoying la dolce vita (the sweet life).

First, set the scene…

Set an intimate table for two with your best linen, china and crystal. Light a few candles (unscented only please…the aromas should be limited to just a hint of your perfume and the dinner itself). Add some mild-smelling, fresh-cut flowers or a vase of simple greenery and place it on the side of the table so the view is clear. Put the wine and Champagne in the wine bucket (or fridge) to chill. Turn the lights down low and put on some romantic music.

Next, dress the part…

Choose something very comfortable but flattering. Sexiness comes from confidence so whatever you choose should make you feel really good. Add some bling and a light spritz of scent. Take some time with your grooming as you look forward to the evening ahead…enjoy the anticipation.

Mis en place…

Put on an apron to protect your clothing and collect everything you’ll need for the dinner. The French culinary term for this is mis en place, or put in place. Having everything ready to go will make the cooking go very smoothly and allow you to focus on your date.

Collect your ingredients…

1/2 pound of rigatoni pasta (half of a bag or box)

1 package (12 oz.) of fresh wild mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

1 small bag (10-12 oz.) of fresh baby spinach, washed

1 cup walnut pieces

3 tablespoons butter

1 container (8 oz.) mascarpone cheese

1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg or 1/2 tsp dried.

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

salt and fresh-cracked black pepper

A small bag of spring salad greens

A handful of fresh, cherry tomatoes

An oil & vinegar dressing of your choice

A fresh French baguette

A pint of fresh strawberries, washed and dried, with the stems still on.

8 oz. heavy cream

12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate pieces or morsels

A crisp, dry white wine

Champagne of your choice

espresso

Assemble your equipment…

A large pasta pot with a lid

A collander

A large saucepan for the sauce
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Filed Under: food, lifestyle

Insalata di finocchi e arance/Fennel and Orange Salad

March 9, 2014 by Samantha 3 Comments

A crisp white bulb of fennel brings to mind my father and the people of his generation, who loved to

eat it as a palate-cleansing finish to a long meal. Fennel, with its delicate, anise-like flavor, thrives on

the Italian plains and is a favorite winter vegetable, particularly at Christmas time. High in fiber and

potassium, fennel has been prized for its nutritional and medicinal value since ancient times.

This simple, refreshing salad has been on the Al Tiramisu menu since I first created this version many

years ago. It’s a perennial hit with my guests who invariably ask me for the recipe. Many home cooks

seem mystified by fennel’s unusual appearance and for them I offer tips, below, for dealing with fennel.
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Filed Under: food, recipes Tagged With: food, healthy eating, italian food

Pulled Brisket Recipe

March 6, 2014 by Samantha 1 Comment

Meat · Yields 6-8 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1 (3-4 pound) second cut brisket

1 Tbsp prepared horseradish

1 Tbsp imitation mustard

½-1cup ketchup, to taste

1 cup water

2 tsp garlic, chopped

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ cup vinegar

salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.

2. Combine remaining ingredients in a 4-quart saucepan and cook over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Filed Under: food, recipes Tagged With: dinner, passover recipes, recipes

Nutri-Grain – Good Food On The Go

March 5, 2014 by Samantha 4 Comments

“I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central for Nutri-Grain. I received product samples and promotional item to thank me for participating.”

Mornings are one of the busiest times of the day- mostly because we have to get everyone going from sleeping to out the door in no time flat. Usually this is a feat which can be achieved with will power and grace, like a well oiled machine or even a ballet of breakfast. But there are, of course, those days where the ballet turns into a mosh pit and Slayer is playing. During these days breakfast turns into ‘grab something on the way out the door’. This grabbed food can be anything from a piece of fruit to a snack bar. What it should be is a Nutri-Grain bar, since they are not only delicious but healthy too. Their most recent addition to the speed breakfast market is the Fruit and Oat Harvest bars. These bars incorporate the classic Nutri-Grain combination of fruit and granola bar with the crunch of whole grain and the energy of protein as well.
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