Uncategorized

Thursday Thoughts #15

~ lk529 ~ 1 Comment

Thursday Thoughts

As some of you may know, we have left Ohio for California! We spent a year and a half in the Dayton area while my husband earned his Masters degree.

Here are some of our favorite {kid-friendly} things to do in SW Ohio.

Next week, I’ll share some of our favorite food destinations.

EnterTRAINmentJunction

If you have any kids who love trains, or you’re an adult who loves model trains, this attraction is a must-see. With more than 2 miles of track in a 25,000 sqft space, this display is the largest model train display in the world! And it’s impressive. The path takes you through the history of train usage beginning with pre-Civil War and going all the way to modern times. There’s even a second floor loft area displaying Coney Island and providing an overhead view of the exhibit. They have scavenger hunts set up throughout the displays, too. Supposedly 10 dinosaurs are placed amongst the scenery, but in two trips we’ve only spotted 7. There’s also a large indoor play area which makes the trip ideal when the weather is cold and rainy. Two outdoor rides that are available Memorial Day thru Labor Day which we didn’t get a chance to experience. Another attraction we didn’t explore is the A-Maze-N Funhouse geared toward older kids.

EnterTRAINment Junction is located halfway between Dayton and Cincinnati on I-675 in West Chester, OH.

National Museum of the USAF

A great, free family destination is the National Museum of the Air Force. The meuseum is located in Dayton, OH. You should note that this museum is massive and it would be near impossible to see everything. If you have a longer trip to the Dayton area I’d suggest only one or two exhibits at a time. It’s a good place to “get your steps” on a cold day, too. During the week it’s not very busy and easier to let the little ones walk around a little more freely.

Young’s Jersey Dairy

Young’s Dairy in Yellow Springs, OH is a fun place to go on beautiful days. They have seasonal activities all year round. In the Winter you can cut your own Christmas trees, there’s an annual Easter Egg Hunt in the Spring, a vintage car show in the Summer, and pumpkin picking in the Fall. We’ve only ever gone to the Dairy in the Fall. There’s a miniature golf course on the property, too! In the evenings you can watch them milking the cows, an event I regret not seeing. During the day though you can pet and feed the goats, and whatever cows are around.

The food at Young’s is good, too. The buffalo cheddar cheese curds are quite delicious and their ice cream alone is worth a trip to the dairy.

Fruit Picking

At the end of the summer, we went berry picking at the Homestead Berry Farm. Firecracker was only 25 months old at the time and he loved running down the aisles of berry bushes and picking raspberries right off the bush! He’d not tried raspberries prior to that outing, despite my trying; now, they’re still one of his favorites! (Though, I don’t think anything will top blueberries.) We filled up a pint of fresh picked raspberries and one pint of fresh picked blackberries. My husband did the blackberry picking while I kept Firecracker away from those prickly bushes, he said it was fun searching for the treasure of the blackberries which grew hidden among the leaves. We also bought a jar of blackberry jam which was delicious on toast.

In the fall, my mom and I went apple picking at Monnin’s Fruit Farm. Once again, my son voluntarily took a bite of an apple that he himself plucked. It’s too bad apples didn’t have the same staying power as the raspberries did. We picked a half-bushel and split the bounty. So many apples! I used some of them in my favorite waffle recipe to date – Apple Pie Waffles.

Zoos

The zoo is always a winner with little ones and we were located right in the middle of two great options: The Cincinatti Zoo and The Columbus Zoo. Both are about an hour drive from Dayton. We explored both zoos while in the Dayton area. While our personal favorite was the Columbus Zoo, I don’t have any bad things to say regarding the Cincinatti Zoo. The Columbus Zoo has a small aquarium on premises and a water park (which we didn’t get to explore, to my husband’s disappointment). General Admission to the Cincinatti Zoo runs at $16, for the Columbus Zoo $19.99. Parking at both attractions is $10. My suggestion for any zoo trip is to go on a less than perfect weather day. Our best animal viewing occurred on a slightly cool, cloudy day with a threat of rain. When it’s not hot the animals are active and the crowds aren’t overpowering either!


Tuesday Tattles #12

~ lk529 ~ 3 Comments

Tuesday Tattles

Five months seems to be my new average for posting Firecracker’s favorite toy themed Tuesday Tattles, as he is now 21 months old. That’s only 3 months away from being two years old. TWO! I’m sorry, WHAT?! Who, what, where, when, why, and most importantly, HOW!?

Like any proud parents, we think we have one smart boy on our hands. He can count (with prompting) to three, and will repeat us up to ten. He knows his shapes and is working on his colors – he knows “boo” and “purp” consistently and his go-to guess is “yell.” One of his bed time procrastination techniques is to point to all the facial body parts and rattle them off – “hair, eye, nose, mouth, ear, cheek.”

Now on to the favorite toys of my almost two year old.

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn ABC Train

Firecracker got this toy at his birthday and it’s been well loved for the past 9 months. He had to get it out of its packaging immediately upon unwrapping it, even! This train sings the alphabet, says the letters individually, and has a song mode with more alphabet fun. I have determined that it’s this toy that taught him how to say “All aboard!”

Winnie the Pooh Wooden Train

Train Toys for Toddlers 1 Sew You Think You Can CookI can’t tell you how thankful I am that Firecracker’s godmother (shout out to Tara!) got him this train for Christmas. He doesn’t play too much with the characters but he races the cars and carries all sorts of other toys, usually shapes, in them. But the real reason I’m thankful for this toy is that it is one of the reasons bed time has been greatly improved. After his 18 month doctor appointment, we started putting him to bed with one of the train cars at the suggestion of our pediatrician. (He doesn’t have a “lovie” blanket or stuffed animal.)

Wooden Railway Thomas and Friends Toys

We succumbed to the power of Thomas and Friends and bought Firecracker a Thomas
toy. His grandparents got him Percy to go with it. The joy that he gets in playing with these small trains was worth the crazy prices we paid for them. The constant happy yelling of “Thom-as” and “Per” is hilarious, too. He doesn’t have a train table to drive them on, but I do want to get him a road/track carpet once we’re settled in our new home later this month.

He usually gets his train table fix by going to Barnes & Noble. There’s always one young child being dragged away kicking and screaming by his parents, and I’m always prepared to be that parent dealing with the mega-tantrum, but telling him “It’s almost time to stop, so choose one more thing to do” (thank you, Daniel Tiger) and having him say “bye bye” helps immensely. We can also ask him to stay calm, and he’ll repeat “calm.” (Granted he’s often half-crying, but it’s pretty amazing to see him try to stay calm and use his words.)

Train Set with Colorful Track

Train Toys for Toddlers 2 Sew You Think You Can CookMy in-laws gave Firecracker this train set for Christmas and it’s definitely one of his all-time favorites. My husband definitely doesn’t feel the same way about this particular toy. I’m indifferent to it, the soundtrack of my life is the sound of this train. It’s the best when it goes under the couch to where I can’t reach it. (Sarcasm!) In all honestly though, this train has gotten so much love that it sounds like it’s on its last leg, and some of the track has been trampled by Firecracker-zilla one too many times.

He is seriously one train obsessed toddler! He likes watching Thomas and Chuggington (though Wallykazam is making a comeback) and the newest obsession are these YouTube videos of Max the Glow Train by Coilbook. For other television favorites you can check our my Tuesday Tattles #9.

Believe it or not, there are some non-train toys that make the cut, too!

Mega Bloks First Builders Firetruck

This “tire tuck” tags along with us just about everywhere – to play dates, dinners at friends’ homes, and the gym. Whenever we’re going somewhere where Firecracker might need toys, I like to bring items that can be easily wiped down, that means no wood, cloth, or electronics. The firetruck has a small compartment for holding a few Mega Bloks, and it turns out to be the perfect size for Thomas and Percy to ride in. Firecracker likes to race his vehicular toys in the kitchen so I must always be wary of tripping over the firetruck.

Shape Matching Toys

Firecracker loves to match his shapes and he can even recognize and “say” circle, oval, square, triangle, and octagon! Some of our favorite shape toys are: Winnie the Pooh Wooden Shape Sorting Cube and First Shapes Jumbo Knob Puzzle.

Books

I’m happy to report that even with his obsession with watching shows, he still loves books! The current favorites include: Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, and If Animals Kissed Good Night.

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

#SundaySupper: Root Vegetables

~ lk529 ~ 25 Comments

Every year in our marriage we’ve celebrated Valentine’s Day by enjoying fondue. That’s what happens when you get two Fondue Makers! Sometimes I do a cheese, sometimes chocolate, and sometimes even both!

This year, our 5th married Valentine’s Day, was a little different. Our stay here in Ohio has been for schooling, my husband will earn his Masters degree at the end of the month. He successfully defended his thesis this week! This calendar year has been quite a stressful and busy one so far and I am quite ready to get my husband back. So, for Valentine’s Day this year I was reading Chapters 4 and 5 of his thesis, being a second set of eyes to check for content cohesion and grammatical quirks.

I woke up really early on Sunday, February 14th to go to the grocery store before the post-church crowds did their shopping to get everything I’d need for Caramelized Shallot Fondue and Champagne Poached Pears. I also found some Florida Strawberries! And then I got to the check out only to discover that they couldn’t sell me alcohol before noon.

We decided we’d go back to get the champagne later in the day but a snow storm derailed those plans. It was on to Plan B. No plan. The plan of, “What’s in the fridge?” Beets. Pine nuts. Crescent rolls. Pasta. Bacon.

An internet search yielded a Beet Pesto Pizza. We didn’t have any of the toppings but the pesto we could make and serve over pasta instead. (We did toss some bacon in our pasta, too!)

The result? A beautiful, deep pink pasta which turned out to be simply perfect for Valentine’s Day! My garnish of parsley makes this a great option for Christmas, too.

That long introduction leads us to the theme for today’s #SundaySupper hosted by Cindy of Cindy’s Recipes and Writings, root vegetables. We contemplated adding some sweet potato to the pesto, but were too afraid of the color that might result. There are some great ideas for how to prepare a wide variety of root vegetables in today’s round-up, simply scroll past my photo to check them out!

Beet Pesto

Ingredients:

  • 1 large beet, peeled and diced
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp pine nuts
  • 1/4 C extra virgin olive oil

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Toss beet and garlic in a little bit of olive oil. Season with S+P. Place on a baking sheet and roast 20-30 minutes, or until tender. (Note: roasting time will depend on size of dice.)
  3. When slightly cooled, place in a food processor and pulse until fine. Add the pine nuts and olive oil and puree until smooth. Season to taste with S+P.
  4. Option: Serve on pasta with parmesan and parsley.

Beet Pesto for #Sunday Supper from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Appetizers

Breakfast

Main

Sides

Desserts

8387592742_f6164fd5a8_oJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Tuesday Tattles #11

~ lk529 ~ 2 Comments

Tuesday Tattles

Many parents have discovered that “silence means trouble,” but for the most part I wouldn’t agree. There are however always those exceptions that make that statement the truest summary of parenting out there.

Most of the time my son’s silence means he’s flipping through a book or playing with his trains. It’s moments like that that make my heart skip a beat. I am so thankful to have a child who is comfortable and able to play on his own and it’s a joy to watch his imagination blossom.

How to Remove Colored Pencil from the Wall (1) Sew You Think You Can CookHowever, sometimes that silence means he’s figured out a way to climb on the table or get into one of the air vents in the floor. In the most recent moment of silence, that naughty action was coloring on the walls. I guess it’s a rite of passage for every child and parent!

I am happy to report that I found an easy cleaning solution! My son used colored pencils so I’m not sure this would work for crayons, it most definitely wouldn’t work for markers – at least I wouldn’t think so. And to add another caveat, I’m not sure if it’d work well on non-white walls.

There I sat with a soap soaked wash cloth scrubbing vigorously to no avail. Sure, I saw a tinge of pink appear on my white cloth but I shudder to think how long I’d have had to sit there rubbing back and forth. And then I had my aha moment. I was wiping at colored pencil, surely an eraser would do the trick! And, it did! Quick and painless.

How to Remove Colored Pencil from the Wall (2) Sew You Think You Can Cook

I did try the eraser trick on some crayon on his play kitchen. It didn’t work as well. I don’t know if it’s because of the texture of the play kitchen or because of the crayon.

SRC: Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork

~ lk529 ~ 16 Comments

newsrcbanner

It’s Secret Recipe Club Reveal Day! In the Secret Recipe Club, each participating blogger is assigned a blog from another participating blogger and secretly searches their site for something to recreate. The accompanying blog post then goes live on reveal day! So while I was immersed in my assigned blog, someone else was picking through mine! I’m so excited to be part of this group, to see what on my blog peaks other’s interests and to stumble upon new blogs and new recipes.

This month I was assigned the fun blog Rainstorms and Love Notes written by Ashley. I mean, really, doesn’t her blog title just make you want to snuggle in with a cup of hot cocoa and have a good look around? I think Ashley and I could be good friends if our paths were to ever cross. All of her recipes are proclaimed to be easy, she enjoys a good DIY project on occasion, and isn’t afraid to admit she loves TV and football! I have nothing against the Pittsburgh Steelers though my NFL love extends to the Chicago Bears and my man Cam Newton’s Panthers. I can’t wait for this post to go live so I can officially follow her on social media and sign up for her blog’s newsletter, no more stalking from the shadows.

I knew I’d have fun picking a recipe from her blog when the first one I stumbled upon was a recipe I’d attemped making myself the previous weekend, Cinnamon Kettle Corn. For New Years Eve we went to our friends’ house for game night and they made the aforementioned popcorn. I took the recipe from them and tried making it for a movie night. Key word, tried. While my husband was putting Firecracker to bed I got started on the popcorn. This recipe is quite different from normal popcorn in that you put the cinnamon and sugar in the oil with the corn kernels! All of a sudden Treat awakens screaming and my attention is torn from the pot on the stove. To say I burnt the batch would be an intense understatement! I resorted to Plan B after a second set of hands was back in the kitchen. Regularly popped popcorn and cinnamon sugar in the melted butter. Fast forward a few weeks and it’s my husband’s turn to try the popcorn. He had much better success and we made sure he wouldn’t be distracted.

Wow, that’s a long tangent. Sorry folks!

I tried to focus my efforts towards Super Bowl recipes and these Pretzel Bites with Jalapeno Cheese Sauce or Cheese-Stuffed Salsa Burgers were quite tempting, but when I saw Carolina Barbecue I knew I had a winner. What better way to cheer on Cam than by eating Carolina Barbecue!? We were supposed to have another family join us for the game but their daughter caught a cold and had to cancel. I’d made a big batch of the pork and the sauce the day before in preparation, so when we were down to the two of us (plus the two boys) for the game watching I decided to only toss as much pork as we needed that night in the sauce. Firecracker ate his pork mixed with salsa instead.

The leftover shredded pork has been used in enchiladas, pasta, and pizza. You’ll see those recipes floating around the blog in the next couple of months. I also have plans to experiment with muffins. And maybe a pot of chili!

Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork

Ingredients for the pork:

  • 2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 5 lb pork roast (I use loin)
  • hamburger buns

Ingredients for the sauce:

  • 2 C apple cider vinegar
  • 2/3 C ketchup
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp ground mustard
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne

Steps:

  1. Make the sauce: Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook 5-10 minutes.
  2. Combine salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Rub all over the pork. Place pork in a slow cooker and top with 2/3 of the barbecue sauce.
  3. Cook on HIGH 4-5 hours until the pork is tender and shreds easily. Remove pork from the slow cooker and let cool slightly. Using two forks shred the pork.
  4. Toss the shredded pork in the remaining barbecue sauce. Serve on hamburger buns.

*This recipe is adapted from Ashley at http://rainstormsandlovenotes.com/2013/09/north-carolina-style-pulled-pork-sandwiches.html*

Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork for Secret Recipe Club from Sew You Think You Can Cook

To see the other bloggers who participated in the Secret Recipe Club this month click here:

A “Date Night” Potluck Party

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

We had our final Recipe Club meeting last week. With most of us moving in the next couple of months the group looks like it’s fizzled to a stop. I had a great time with these ladies and met my best friend up here (and Firecracker’s best friend, too!) through this group and I am forever grateful. I couldn’t have imagined this assignment here in Ohio without these fabulous ladies and the clubs and groups that I joined while here.

For our last meeting I suggested “Date Night” as a theme, taking a cue from the holiday this Sunday. We had a very small gathering, only six of us! (There are seven items listed below because I brought two dishes.) I wasn’t surprised by the small turn out as most of our husbands are in hunker down mode finishing up their theses..thesii? I know I can’t wait for thesis defense to happen and the stress level in our life go down just a tad. So it’s no surprise that there was a good deal of chocolate on the menu during out meeting!

Date Night Recipe Round UpHere are the recipes that were brought to the “Date Night” potluck”

#FreshTastyValentines: Roshambo

~ lk529 ~ 24 Comments

LogoWelcome to day one of #FreshTastyValentines, a blogging event headed up by Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla. To kick off the week I’ve made a cocktail perfect for your Valentine’s Day brunch (and a bonus recipe for pancakes).

When UncommonGoods signed on as one of our event sponsors I knew I wanted to make a cocktail because they have an incredible selection of gifts to keep any home bar and kitchen uniquely equipped (here). UncommonGoods (www.uncommongoods.com) is a web-based marketplace offering creatively designed, high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. One of the incredible prizes to win during this week’s event is a $150 gift certificate at their site. With your shopping spree you can find incredible glassware in which to enjoy my Roshambo cocktail or your favorite bottle of wine (here) or discover ways keep your drinks cool without watering them down (here).

Because we’re celebrating Valentine’s Day this week I limited my cocktail recipe search to red or pink beverages. With a big move approaching in the Spring I also added another restriction so as to not buy any new liquor. The discovery of the Roshambo couldn’t have been more perfect. It is a sparkling wine based cocktail which fits in beautifully with Valentine’s Day. This cocktail is a beautiful accompaniment to your Valentine’s breakfast.

This recipe makes two servings.

Roshambo

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 1/2 C water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 C apple juice
  • 1/2 C cranberry juice
  • prosecco or champagne

Steps:

  1. Place sugar, water, and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Allow simple syrup to cool completely. Remove cinnamon stick.
  2. In a small pitcher combine 1/4 C cinnamon simply syrup with the juices. Keep cold until ready to serve.
  3. Pour juice mixture into glasses and top with prosecco.

*This recipe is adapted from Eva at http://1bigbite.com/2013/11/roshambo/*

Roshambo for #FreshTastyValentines from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway and be sure to check out the other bloggers who posted more Valentine’s recipes today:

Thank you to #FreshTastyValentines sponsors for providing bloggers with samples and products to use for #FreshTastyValentines recipe development without additional compensation. All opinions stated are those of the bloggers.

This blog post also comes with a bonus recipe for pancakes!

Cinnamon Sour Cream Pancakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 C whole wheat flour
  • 1 C all-purpose flour
  • 4 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 eggs
  • 8 oz sour cream
  • 1 C milk
  • 1/2 stick butter, melted

Steps:

  1. In a large bowl whisk together the flours, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  2. In another bowl whisk together the eggs, sour cream, milk, and melted butter.
  3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry.
  4. On a hot buttered griddle drop 1/2 C of batter into pancakes. Flip pancakes when batter starts to set and bubble form in the center of the pancake. Cook until both sides are golden brown.

*This recipe is modified from Kelley at http://www.mountainmamacooks.com/2015/11/creme-fraiche-pancakes/*

 

#FreshTastyValentines: The Giveaway

~ lk529 ~ 5 Comments

Welcome to #FreshTastyValentines! This event, hosted by Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla,  runs February 1st through February 8th. We have nearly two dozen bloggers with over one hundred recipes scheduled to inspire you to have a wonderful Valentine’s weekend. With six different categories (drinks, appetizers, fruits and veggies, dips, meats, and desserts) you’re sure to find the perfect dish to make for your sweetheart!

Before we begin, we’d like to give a HUGE “Thank You” to our sponsors! These sponsors have contributed great prizes for a gigantic giveaway. There are fourteen different prize packages which are detailed in the rafflecopter. The rafflecopter link is below and will go live on February 1st at 12am PDT. Note: If you are finding this post before the #10DaysofTailgate kick-off please check back to enter the giveaway.

Thank you LOGO-001 (1)

Our #FreshTastyValentines Bloggers
in alphabetical order with links to their homepages
The Prizes

BenBella Vegan is a division of BenBella Books, a boutique book publisher located in Texas. BenBella Vegan has published over twenty plant-based books and cookbooks in the past decade. They are providing a prize package that includes five different cookbooks from their 2015 publishing releases! One #FreshTastyValentines winner will receive a print copy of the following cookbooks: The Plant-Based Journey, Dining at The Ravens, Plant-Powered Families, The China Study Quick & Easy Cookbook, and The Plant Pure Nation Cookbook.

While there’s been a growing awareness of whole grain
benefits in recent years, Bob’s Red Mill has been providing whole grain products to customers since 1978. Their philosophy is to provide whole grain foods that have endured the test of time. They are providing one #FreshTastyValentines winner with a package of Hulled Hemp Seed Hearts. With a nut-like flavor and creamy texture, their hulled hemp seeds are a nutritious, healthy, and delightful addition recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

Casabella grew out of the idea that housewares
and cleaning products could be great looking, fun and functional simultaneously. And, to that end, they strive to deliver products that are attractive, intuitive and functional.
Additionally, all of their products are designed and assembled in America. They are providing a prize package of kitchen gadgets that are perfect for your Valentine cooking and for the rest of the year as well. One #FreshTastyValentines winner will receive: Casabella’s Clip n StripShears and a Garlic Roaster.

Envy Apples were born in New Zealand using natural plant-breeding methods by cross-pollinating Braeburn apples with Royal Gala apples. They have since planted trees in Washington state and Chile. They are providing a prize package for one #FreshTastyValentines winner that will include Envy apples, an apple corer, and more.

Gourmet Garden loves herbs and spices and strives to make everyday cooking easier and more enjoyable. Their herbs and spices are washed, chopped and prepped within 18
hours of harvesting through patented processes that seal in the natural essential oils to maximize the fresh flavor and aroma of the herbs. They are providing one #FreshTastyValentines winner with each of their stir-in pastes (basil, chili pepper, cilantro, dill, Italian herbs, garlic, chunky garlic, ginger, lemongrass, oregano, parsley, and Thai seasonings), each of their lightly dried herbs (basil, chili pepper, cilantro, ginger, and parsley), and two Gourmet Garden logo coolers.

KitchenIQ is the new houseware branch of Smith’s Consumer Products, Inc. and embraces their long-standing reputation
for innovation and quality, reflecting their commitment to producing smarter products for the kitchen. They are providing a prize package of kitchen gadgets that are perfect for your Valentine cooking and for the rest of the year as well. One #FreshTastyValentines winner will receive: KitchenIQ’s Strawberry
Tool and Better Zester.

Mann Packing was founded in 1939 and is now a third generation, majority women-owned company. Their mission is: Fresh Vegetables Made Easy™ and they value honor, passion, quality, and vision. Additionally, they support local schools and donate generously to numerous charitable organizations throughout the community and the industry. They are giving one #FreshTastyValentines winner a $25 gift card.

Not Ketchup was created by Erika Kerekes who also writes the kitchen blog In Erika’s Kitchen. She shares: “When we think of ketchup, we think tomatoes. But it hasn’t
always been that way. The first ketchups were actually made several centuries ago from pickled, fermented fish in China, Malaysia and Indonesia.” Not Ketchup got its name because the United States has bizarre regulations about what can be labeled as ‘ketchup.’ Since Not Ketchup does not contain any tomatoes, according to the powers that be, it’s Not Ketchup. Not Ketchup is providing one #FreshTastyValentines winner with a bottle of their NEW No-Sugar Added Tangerine Hatch Chile fruit ketchup.

Pacari Chocolate is a family owned business created in Ecuador by Santiago Peralta and Carla Barbotó. They wanted to revolutionize the chocolate industry; pacari means “nature” in Quechua, and was selected to embody everything that Pacari Chocolate represents. They are providing one #FreshTastyValentines winner a package of their premium organic chocolates!

Sun Basket is a convenient ingredient delivery service that was created by a top San Francisco-based chef and approved by an in-house nutritionist. Each delivery includes easy, delicious recipes and seasonal, sustainably souced ingredients from West Coast farms. Sun Basket has generously donated THREE prize boxes. Winners must reside in the following states: CA, WA, CO, UT, OR, AZ, NV, & ID to win these prizes.

 T.Lish began because each Christmas, Tiffany Denson would make dozens of mason jars filled with her signature dressing and marinade for her neighbors, friends, and family. Then, they began requesting the sauce throughout the year; a neighbor recommended she start selling it retail. She did. And word spread. T.Lish is Tiff’s line of all natural and extremely versatile dressings, marinades and sauces. They are providing a prize package of their three marinades and dressings to one #FreshTastyValentines winner.

UncommonGoods was founded by Dave Bolotsky who, at a craft show at the Smithsonian in 1999, was captivated by the unique handmade goods and the craftsman behind them. He had a vision to create an online venue to connect makers to individuals searching for special and uncommon goods. UncommonGoods (www.uncommongoods.com) is an web-based marketplace offering creatively designed, high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. They are providing one #FreshTastyValentines winner a $150 gift certificate for a shopping spree at the online marketplace.

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi began over thirty years ago, when Robert Mondavi had a goal of getting great California wine on every table in America. In 1979 he established the Woodbridge Winery near his childhood home of Lodi, California to make fruit-focused wines for everyday drinking. They are providing a prize package for the raffle. One #FreshTastyValentines winner will receive two bottles of Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi wine – one bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and one bottle of Pinot Noir.

Our #FreshTastyValentines Bloggers
in alphabetical order with links to their homepages
A Day in the Life on theFarm
A Kitchen Hoor’sAdventures
CafeTerraBlog
Caroline’s Cooking
Cheese Curd In Paradise
Cindy’s Recipes andWritings
Colie’s Kitchen
Cookaholic Wife
Culinary Adventures withCamilla
Curious Cuisiniere
Dancing Veggies
Eliot’s Eats
Famished Fish, FinickyShark
Jane’s Adventures inDinner
Making Miracles
Poet in the Pantry
Rhubarb and Honey
Sew You Think You CanCook
The Pajama Chef
The Spiffy Cookie
Things I Make (forDinner)
Tortillas and Honey
The Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: The #FreshTastyValentines giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up only. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The #FreshTastyValentines Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.
Thank you to #FreshTastyValentines sponsors for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #FreshTastyValentines recipe development without additional compensation. All opinions stated are those of the bloggers.

#SundaySupper: Big Game Day Recipes

~ lk529 ~ 18 Comments

Are you ready for the big game next weekend? I am! As an Auburn graduate I am a huge Cam Newton fan. Seriously, love that man (and his smile)! Not only is he an incredible athlete but he is a man making a difference in his community and in the lives of children. Even though he did leave Auburn to go to the NFL after taking us to a National Championship victory, he returned to Auburn in the off season to finish his degree. War Eagle, Cam!

But I digress.

If your team didn’t make it (my main team allegiance is the Chicago Bears) that doesn’t mean you can’t gather with friends and watch history in the making. Besides, there are always commercials and the half-time show if you don’t care about the game itself. And if none of that appeals to you, just show up for some good food! The Sunday Supper crew has a wonderful variety of recipes to create the perfect game watching menu. Thank you to T.R. Crumbley of Gluten Free Crumbley for assembling the team!

Today I’m sharing a recipe for chicken wings. To me, wings are the ultimate football watching food! (Well, that and some sort of dip.) Chicken wings aren’t hard to make at home either. Especially when you can do them in the slow cooker! Whaat? Yes, it’s true! The trick is popping them under the broiler right before serving to get them crispy. These particular wings are cooked in a Thai-inspired peanut sauce. I then garnish them with cilantro, lime wedges, and chopped peanuts. Delicious.

(P.S. Happy Birthday, Mom!)

Slow Cooker Thai Wings

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 C creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 C soy sauce
  • 1/4 C brown sugar
  • 1-2 tbsp chili paste, to taste (I used Gourmet Garden stir-in paste)
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed (I used 1 tsp Gourmet Garden chunky garlic stir-in paste)
  • 2-4 lb chicken wings, tips removed and wings split
  • cilantro (I used Gourmet Garden lightly dried herbs), for garnish (optional)
  • limes, for garnish (optional)
  • chopped peanuts, for garnish (optional)

Steps:

  1. Lightly grease the bowl of your slow cooker.
  2. In a small bowl, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, chili paste, and garlic. Adjust chili paste to taste. Pour into slow cooker.
  3. Add the wings and toss to coat all the wings in the sauce. Cook on LOW 2-4 hours.
  4. Place cooked wings on a foil lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil on HIGH for 3-5 minutes, until crispy.
  5. Garnish with cilantro, lime, and peanuts if desired.

*This recipe is adapted from Rachel at http://followinginmyshoes.com/my-recipes/sweet-n-spicy-slow-cooker-wings*

Slow Cooker Thai Wings for #SundaySupper from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Appetizers and Sides

Main Dishes

Desserts and Drinks

Plus

8387592742_f6164fd5a8_oJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Thursday Thoughts #14

~ lk529 ~ 2 Comments

Thursday Thoughts

Today I want to talk about the one little part of motherhood no one tells you about: parent guilt.

Before becoming a parent people tell you all about the lack of sleep, the constant fear of “living with your heart out of your chest,” and about the love you didn’t know you could give. You know that “a baby changes everything” and you’re {somewhat} prepared for countless dirty diapers and seemingly infinite feeding sessions; and you can never be prepared for the jump of your insides the first time your baby smiles at you or the first time you hear that giggle. Becoming a parent is a roller coaster of emotions!

IMG_6772

When you have two kids none of those feelings change, but they do multiply. Days definitely get harder and nights have the potential to disappear into a state of being constantly awake (depending on the sleeping habits of baby number one). But again, you’re not prepared for the immense releif when your oldest not only accepts the new addition to the family, but shows him love. You’re more aware of the feelings that come with new motherhood and they’re still magical with baby number two. There’s amazement that you truly can love two children equally and it didn’t come at a cost of division, but addition.

You know all of that. While you may not appreciate it or understand it until you experience it, you know it.

What you don’t know is the constant pang of guilt. And it’s a guilt that absolutely grows with the number of children. It’s those constant questions: Did I do enough today? Do my kids know I love them? Did I play enough? Was I on my phone too much? Did he watch too much tv? Are they happy?

And the answers aren’t always a simple yes or no answer.

Yes, you did enough. There are days after rough nights or sick days when you think you didn’t, but know you did. If you fed yourself and fed your kids, if you changed that diaper, if you said, “I love you,” you did enough.

Yes, your kids know you love them. You can see it in their smile, when they grab your hand, when they want to play with you, when they want you to sit next to them. Just take a look.

The third question is the one I have the hardest time answering. My son is 18 months old and is an incredible big brother, but I can tell he’s starting to exhibit jealousy. On days when my youngest is extra fussy or extra hungry my toddler starts acting out for attention. It’s the most difficult feeling to process. Both babies need me and there’s a balance that shifts daily. I’m learning to use Treat’s naptime not as a moment to check on the blog or edit a photo but to instead play with Firecracker. He doesn’t ask for much, he just wants to know that I’m not just there, that I’m present.

Which rolls us into “Am I on the phone too much?” I know that answer is “yes.” It’s something I’m trying to work on. I can make excuses for why I keep it near me at all times, but they’re not exactly valid. I don’t need to photograph every move my children make, I don’t need to answer that text message immediately, or read that email. It’s a hard habit to break. Some days I do much better at leaving my phone on the counter than others. Habits are easy to make and hard to break. All I can do is say, “I’m trying.”

“Did he watch too much TV?” Well, yes. According to the medical community at least. It’s something that I am again working on. We spend a lot of time playing in a room without a television, but when I need to nurse Treat we return to the couch and I throw on Thomas and Friends or Chuggington. And my son is slightly addicted to the TV, too. Each morning the first thing he asks for is “train! … peeease.” It’s that very first stretch of TV watching I’m trying to postpone by reading a couple of books instead. I don’t win everyday, but again, I’m trying. I take comfort knowing that my son is a ball full of energy who would still rather climb and run than sit still. A child who would much rather be playing outside and one who likes to escape the confines of the house. (Spring, are you here yet?)

But the number one concern of all parents: are my kids happy? I’d like to think mine are quite happy. And I know they are loved beyond any measurable quantity. If they feel just an ounce of the love I have for them, then I can be assured they are happy.

Parent guilt. It sucks. I don’t have any solutions to getting rid of this guilt, and I’m not sure I’d want to. Having it lets me know that I’m doing my best. And that’s good enough.