Dinner Time (in less time)

Complimentary product was provided to me so that I could experience the products and share about them with friends and through my blog.

As a busy mom, the one thing that I have strived to maintain is sitting down together as a family for dinner. Some nights are easier than others and as the kids get older, and busier, I have not been successful in acheiving that goal every day. With both kids, my husband and myself being active, many nights to even have dinner together (and not spending a long time in the kitchen when we get home from everything) means jumping through a few hoops and definitely some meal planning. Now that it is the fall, my son is back at school, so there is one less schedule to juggle but still appreciate time savings to help orchestrate family meal time.

As I have shared before, one of the things that I have found really beneficial about meal planning is cooking once and eating two or three times. With the help of some prepared foods, this can really help with getting food on the table when the family is together.

I recently had the chance to try several of the Bob Evans Farms side dishes, which you can find in your local grocer's refrigerated section. We have enjoyed their Homestyle Mashed Potatoes for years but had not tried their other sides. I picked out Sliced Glazed Apples and a side of Macaroni and Cheese, as well as a familiar favorite Homestyle Mashed Potatoes on a recent shopping trip.

The Sliced Glazed Apples were a hit. I served them as a side with Pork Chops, Corn and the Home Style Mashed Potatoes. They were just the right touch to complete the meal, offering a nice balance of sweetness and a touch of spice. And let's be honest, nothing says fall like a warm, spicy apple, it was almost like having a pie or crisp without the crusts.

Of course, the mashed potatoes are a side we enjoy with the pan fried pork chops everytime I serve them. The warm, creaminess with just a touch of bite and made with real butter and milk, just like I make them, really gives them that homemade taste but ready in 6 minutes instead of the time it takes to peel, dice, boil and smash potatoes on my own. A definite time saver!

The Macaroni and Cheese, we enjoyed as a light meal. We added a bit of bacon to top the macaroni and cheese, a side salad and some rolls to make it a complete meal. The Macaroni and Cheese was a nice creamy, gooey dish with the macaroni having just enough bite and the six cheese blend providing the right balance of tanginess.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family and friends. Complimentary coupons were provided to me to purchase the products of my choice, so that I could share my experience with friends and through my blog.

Wewalka Baking Party and Review #Tryazon #wewalkaparty

As a participant in the Tryazon Wewalka Party, I received an Wewalka party pack which included a coupons to try the product at the party and to share with my guests. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pizza is a staple at our house. We have it on a variety of crusts. We do open face quesadilla pizzas on tortillas, we use leftover buns and bagels to make pizzas, we use bread dough, dough mixes and homemade dough. We top them with all sorts of toppings - simple to complex, sweet and savory. We enjoy it at any meal and as a snack too. So, when I got the opportunity to try Wewalka European Bakery Style Dough, I was excited.

The party pack included an apron and an oven mitt for me and some insulated bags, magnetic shopping lists, Wewalka pens and measuring spoons and coupons for product to share with guests. (not all pictured)

I spent a couple of evenings studying the website and finding inspiration and recipes to try at our party. I wound printing out a recipe for shrimp flatbread, a buffalo chicken calzone, a chocolate cherry cheesecake pizza, jalapeno popper puffs, bread sticks and a prosciutto pizza. I made up my grocery list and headed off to find my ingredients and the dough. My store carried four varieties of their dough - Puff Pastry, Flatbread, Classic Pizza and Bistro Pizza. I decided to grab a couple of each to try at the party, using the recipes I found or improvising with other pizzas we enjoy.

Before the guests arrived, I started with prep work and even got a couple of the things in the oven. I wanted the guests to see and work with the product, but with basketball on in the background and plans to play poker, I knew attention would be divided and I would have to prepare to ensure we got to also try more product than we prepped during the party. Plus, you can only have so much in the oven at a time and I only have three baking stones.

I love that the dough comes on parchment paper and is refrigerated, so when you are ready to bake you can simply unroll, top and bake. The packaging is great too, as it is a flat sleeve and can easily stack on the side of my refrigerator, making them easy to access. As I opened the packaging to make the first recipe, I noticed this small valve on the inside. I assumed it had something to do with minimizing moisture build-up on the dough, but to be sure I looked it up on the website and learned that the valve is part of their packaging because they "use real, live baker’s yeast which needs to slowly release carbon dioxide, so we’ve added specialized valves to the packaging. Our yeast ensures your pastries and pizzas always rise up and bake to perfection." (I like it, great way to ensure the freshness and deliver performance of the product). Baking on the parchment paper sure made clean-up easy, which was especially good for the party, since we only had three stones and one pan that we were using.

Buffalo Pizza:
Started with a traditional pizza crust, used ranch dressing to cover the dough, added chicken that had been mixed with buffalo sauce, then added onions and shredded colby jack cheese and baked according to the package.

 Margherita Pizza:

Shrimp Flatbread:

Buffalo Chicken Calzone:

Jalepeno Popper Puffs:

Margherita and Cheese Flatbread:
Started by unrolling a flatbread and scoring it to create two halves. Added pizza sauce as a base to each side. Added fresh mozzarella slices on one side and shredded Italian cheese on the other. Baked it according to the package directions. Then, added fresh sliced tomatoes and fresh basil. Returned it to the oven for 5 minutes, then drizzled with balsamic.

The traditional margherita pizza and the half margherita/half cheese flatbread were delicious. I think that margherita pizza is one of my favorites, there is just something about the fresh tomatoes and the drizzle of balsamic that is so tasty. We wound up making a buffalo chicken pizza in addition to the calzone. The jalapeño poppers, which we left the bacon out of, were delicious, but I would make them smaller next time - everyone was cutting them in half to enjoy anyway. The shrimp flatbread was tasty, but compared to the other offerings, just wasn't as popular. Everyone loved the chocolate cheesecake pizza, it was super rich though and so we had a good amount left over (not a bad thing at all - meant we got to enjoy some the next day).

Chocolate Cheesecake Pizza:

I liked the flavor of the product, but found that based on the timing on the directions and/or on the packaging for those that we improvised, that the pizza and flat breads did not bake up as much as I prefer. I don't mind a soft crust and it works fine for a lightly topped flatbread, but it made it difficult to plate up the chocolate cheesecake pizza and the calzone was also difficult to cut and plate for sharing. I found that extending the cooking time helped it cook up a little more. Also, those items that I tucked in the oven to reheat also crisped up nice directly on the stone.

The ease of use of the Wewalka pizza and flatbread products is tremendous. As a busy mom, I could feasibly make and bake a (nearly) homemade pizza for my family in about 20 minutes including prep, which is important on those nights with games and practices that leave little time for dinner. The dough being rolled up with the parchment paper not only makes it easy to use, but makes clean-up a breeze - another time saver on a busy night.

The puff pastry feels like a very versatile product to me, one that can be used for both sweet and savory dishes and the fact that it is fresh and not frozen makes it an easy go to for dinners or dessert. I look forward to trying more of the puff pastry recipes, since we wound up only trying the jalepeno poppers at the party.

There are so many more recipes that I look forward to trying, you can peruse them yourself here. You can find a local store that carries the Wewalka line, using their store locator here.

The guests and my family all enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Wewalka Baking Party through Tryazon.

As a participant in the Tryazon Wewalka Party, I received an Wewalka party pack which included a coupons to try the product at the party and to share with my guests. All opinions expressed are my own.

LLOYD’S® Babyback Pork Ribs #hormel

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

We are doing a little bit of update work in the kitchen. As a result, we don't have any space to prep, but do still have use of the stove and oven. We also are relying on just our utility sink in our laundry room for clean-up. This has resulted in us having to be a little more creative with meal planning, looking for ideas that don't require much in terms of preparation or clean-up.

One night for dinner last week, we went with ribs and baked potatoes. Since we had a package of LLOYD’S® Babyback Pork Ribs, the preparation was easy.

Simply wrap the ribs in foil and bake for about an hour.

Even though you have to cook the ribs for an hour, I would say that these ribs are quick prep and best of all, you get the taste of slow cooked ribs in just about an hour.

The ribs are so tender and bones come out easily and clean.

The ribs are seasoned and you can enjoy them as is, or add your favorite barbecue sauce.

The ribs were very tender and moist. The flavor was great even without sauce. Both of the kids really enjoyed them. With about 2 pounds in the package, we had enough for the family and a little bit for leftovers. The leftovers will be repurposed for pork quesadillas, another low prep, easy and tasty meal that we can enjoy while under construction.

Have you tried making ribs at home?

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product samples for my family to try. I also receive thought starters, information and photos that can be used in a post.

Rediscovering Quesadillas

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

We have a new favorite, quick and easy meal or snack at my house - Quesadillas. They are so simple to make from whatever you have on hand. I am completely surprised by families sudden enthusiasm for quesadillas. When they were little, my kids would always turn their nose up at the option of quesadillas when we went out for Mexican. The good news is that they ate Mexican food and didn't just ask for the hot dog or chicken nuggets.

Anyway, back to the quesadilla explosion. It all started one day with leftovers. We had grilled some chicken the night before and had some leftover. Most of the chicken was eaten as a topping for salad, but there was a small amount left and my husband asked for a quesadilla. We took the leftover chicken and chopped it up, placing it on one tortilla in a small skillet and then added peppers, onions and cheese and warmed it up to melt the cheese. Since that day, they have become a go to request for a leftover or grab what you want type meal.

I generally have some tortillas on hand because soft tacos are a popular go to menu option, but lately I have had to add tortillas (Chi Chi's tortillas are our go to brand) to my 'pantry' shopping and make sure that I have an extra pack on hand, so that we don't run out.

I think my favorite part is how versatile a quesadilla can be. You can chose to have no meat or whatever meat you have on hand (typically leftovers) - chicken, ground meat, sausage, pepperoni. You can use any type of cheese - cheddar, mozzarella, goat. You can add a variety of vegetables - onions, hot peppers, bell peppers, squash. You can serve it with any number of dips - sour cream, salsa, queso, ranch, pizza sauce. Essentially, you can make it your own and everyone can have their own variety with ease.

My small skillet is the perfect size to fit a soft taco shell. It's non-stick and the quesadilla only takes a few minutes to warm over a medium heat. I also like that it is easy for the kids to make their own too. It may just be a phase, but for now quesadillas are a quick, easy snack or meal option for our family.

What is your go to snack? How do you repurpose leftovers?

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product samples for my family to try. I also receive thought starters, information and photos that can be used in a post.

Dinner Planning Funk - Dinner Solved!

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

I have been stuck in a dinner planning funk. On the plus side, the family is still eating three meals a day. On the down side, at 5 pm, as I am wrapping up my work day, I have no idea what I am going to come home and prepare for the family. This is a little stressful and limiting in the sense that somethings require advance prep or at least advance defrosting.

It's times like this that I am glad that I generally have some convenience items in my pantry and a set of staples (at least to us) in my refrigerator. The other night, when the decision of what to have for dinner was still unanswered, I opened up my pantry looking for inspiration and saw that I had a jar of Herdez Mexican Cooking Sauces - Traditional Chipotle. This was all the inspiration that I needed for a quick, flavorful and balanced meal for my family.

I pulled some already grilled chicken out of the freezer, along with two slices of already cooked bacon and set it in my saute pan to warm it up. Once it was warm, I added in part of the jar of the Traditional Chipotle sauce. I grabbed a bag of shredded Mexican style cheese, a bag of salad, sour cream and a package of Chi-Chi's Flour Tortillas out of the fridge. Also, from my pantry, I grabbed some rice and a can of pinto beans and prepped both. From the garden, I had the kids grab a couple of tomatoes and an onion, which I diced up.

In a matter of about 15 minutes, I had prepared a flavorful dinner. Some ate it more like a salad or bowl, others prepared soft tacos with beans and rice on the side.

How do you handle those unplanned dinner nights? I just checked out their recipe page and I discovered a number of recipes that I could have also used for a quick meal.

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product samples for my family to try. I also receive thought starters and information that can be used in a post.

Dinner in a Hurry: Burrito Bowls

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

At our house, summer is punctuated with a variety of sporting events for the two kids and many times, the events overlap. The net result is that having a family dinner is increasingly more challenging, but since family dinner is something that I strongly value, I find creative ways to make it happen and to try to keep it reasonably healthy.

One thing that we have turned to this summer has been Burrito Bowls. I can prep most the night before and we can simply assemble and enjoy for dinner.

Ingredients:
Rice, prepared
Pinto and/or Black Beans, prepared
Pork, Chicken or Beef, prepared
Shredded Lettuce
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Salsa - Mild, Hot, Verde

Assemble bowl, with desired ingredients, starting with the rice, the beans and the meat. Then top with the lettuce, sour cream and cheese.

Finish with desired salsas.

We love the Herdez Salsa Casera and the Herdez Salsa Verde as toppers for our bowls. They also make great dips for a side of tortilla chips. Sometimes, I even get ambitious and make some guacamole.

The last time we made bowls, I found a great product to help make the prep work even easier. I used Lloyd’s pulled pork for this. It’s this new variety I haven’t seen in store yet, but hope I do soon!

I love that it has no sauce. It makes it perfect for use in the bowls and it also allows more flexibility in my family where everyone likes their pulled pork a little different - more or less sauce, more or less spice.

What is your family's go to meal for a quick family meal during busy times?


No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product samples for my family to try. I also receive thought starters and information that can be used in a post.

The Snow is Coming...

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

or that is what the forecast says. Fortunately for us, it is a quiet Saturday evening at home. We have had a busy weekend already with working out, a couple of soccer games, a trip to the grocery store (before the storm rush), and continued work on organizing the house.

One of the 'projects' that I am continuing to work on is clearing out the freezer. At the end of December, I had succeeded in reducing the freezer contents so that I could move the items from the deep freeze into our refrigerator freezer. Now, I have started to restock the freezer through sales, but continue to work on eating those items that had been in the deep freeze - to help ensure proper rotation and that the food doesn't get old.

Today was the unplanned day in my menu plan. Looking in the freezer, I saw that I had some popcorn chicken on hand. My son is a huge fan of Chicken Bacon Ranch (anything), so I suggested that they have Chicken Bacon Ranch sandwiches for dinner tonight. They are tasty and satisfying.

We took some sausage rolls that we had left from Philly Cheese Steaks earlier this week, filled them first with the popcorn chicken, added some ranch and topped with some Hormel Black Label Bacon.

The kids enjoyed the Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwiches, but I went for a grown up grilled cheese. Two slices of crusty bread, provolone cheese, bacon and a slice of tomato. Toast it up in the oven for an amazing grilled cheese.

Whether you prefer a meaty sandwich or a gooey cheesy sandwich, you can't go wrong with having bacon in your dinner on a cold winter's night.
No compensation was received for this post. Product samples and thought starters are provided by Hormel through the Hormel Extended Family Blogger program, in which I participate. All opinions are my own or that of my family.

The Return of the Busy Life

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

It's funny to me how cyclical busyness is in our lives. We either have nothing going on or we have a hundred and two things going on.

As we start to get back into the school routine, we are also getting back into soccer for two kids and baseball for one. That is one less sport than the spring/summer season, but still proves to be very busy. The good news is that by some coincidence, both kids have soccer practice at the same field, on the same day, at times that overlap by 45 minutes...meaning that although they will each get a bit of time to sit before or after their own practice, I get to have a much easier than normal schedule.

Of course, even though their practices are on the same night, we still have to get there pretty quick after I come home from work. This makes dinner a real challenge, but it is important to me that we get the chance to eat together as often as possible. I tend to take two approaches to dinner on these busy nights. Either I select a meal that I can prepare ahead so that I can get it on the table in a quick turn before we head off for soccer or I plan a meal that I can prep while they shower after practice.

One of my quick prep favorites is tacos. By cutting the vegetables and preparing the meat the night before, we can quickly warm the meat and eat before heading out. Another favorite is chicken Caesar salad. When I cook dinner the night before, I prepare a couple of extra chicken breasts, slice them up and have them ready to go, along with romaine lettuce, some shredded Parmesan, some dressing and croutons.

When we have to wait for dinner, it is important to me that the kids get an afternoon snack that I know will help hold them over through practice until dinner. This means that I look for snacks that have both carbs and protein - I have always heard that a sustaining snack has some protein along with carbohydrates to help fuel their energy needs. Some of our go to favorites are string cheese and crackers, or apples and peanut butter, or yogurt and granola.

Another item that the kids enjoy as a snack before we head out the door (or sometimes, as we do) is Hormel Rev Wraps. I like that they have a good amount of protein, but don't seem to be such a big snack as to spoil their dinner. The kids like that there are so many varieties to choose from, although experience says that Pepperoni Pizza is their favorite.

Then, dinner is usually some sort of a dish that requires a little bit of prep time - either on the stove or in the oven - that times up well with them getting their showers.

It can be a challenge, but sitting down as a family for dinner is important and we find ways to work around that.

What is your approach to dinner when your schedule is full?

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information for this post.

SPAM Teriyaki

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

SPAM is one of those items that everyone has heard of. I know that there are many that have childhood memories of eating SPAM. Did you know that SPAM has been around for over 75 years? No wonder it is a brand that many are familiar with.

Last year is when I first introduced my kids to SPAM. They both enjoyed it, I made it simple by cooking it up in the skillet and serving it with eggs and toast.

With the newest flavor - Teriyaki, my mind went right to stir fry or burgers with pineapple. There is something that is so appealing to me about the flavors of Teriyaki and warm pineapple. A quick search of the recipe collection on Spam.com found me both! Noodlelicious SPAM Teriyaki and Hawaiian SPAMburger.

SPAM Teriyaki – Prepare your palate – a new SPAM® brand variety is now available nationwide! SPAM® Teriyaki is inspired by the rising popularity of Island cuisine hitting the mainland. Making waves all the way from beautiful Hawaii and gaining popularity among the culinary community as the “it dish,” SPAM® Musubi - a slice of grilled SPAM® and rice wrapped in nori (seaweed) - is to Hawaiians what a slice of pizza is to New Yorkers or a hot dog is to Chicagoans. Create your own SPAM® Musubi with this helpful video!”

With this introduction, the SPAM® family of products now offers 12 different varieties in the U.S., including recent additions of Chorizo and Jalapeño.

I watched the video on SPAM Musubi and it does look pretty good too.

Have you ever had SPAM? What's your favorite way to enjoy SPAM?

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information for this post.

SPAM Across America

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

SPAM is one of those items that everyone has heard of. I know that there are many that have childhood memories of eating SPAM. Did you know that SPAM has been around for over 75 years? No wonder it is a brand that many are familiar with.

This past weekend, I introduced my kids to SPAM. We kept our meal very simple, serving the SPAM like I would serve ham. I simply sliced the SPAM, cooked it in my skillet and served with eggs over easy and toast.

The kids really enjoyed it. My daughter had the leftovers with her lunch the next day and told me that I should make it more often.

For a brand that has been a well-known food icon for the past 76 years, it’s amazing how many people have never tried SPAM®! After so many years, SPAM® still provides the same tasty experience in a variety of flavors and sizes to SPAM® lovers worldwide today. Have you ever tried SPAM®? What about your readers?

More recently, chefs across the United States have been finding ways to work the unique flavors of SPAM® into authentic and unique recipes, making SPAM® a delicacy that everyone can enjoy.

The below map can act as a guide as you begin your quest to try as many SPAM® recipes as your stomach can handle. Summer is perfect road-trip time; so why not try something a little bit different this year? The highlight of your trip? The magnificent SPAM® Museum in Austin, Minnesota has 16,500 square feet of tastefully presented SPAM®-filled history. There’s a little something for everyone in your family:

* Educational: See the World War II exhibit, SPAM® history timeline and interactive SPAM™ Game Show quiz
* Entertaining: Great exhibits for the Monty Python fans out there
* Interactive: Visitors are encouraged to try their hand at canning SPAM® along a mock assembly line and participate in SPAM-related trivia
* Full of Goodies: Explore a whole store filled with SPAM® collectibles and tasty treats
* Free!: Open seven days a week Monday through Saturday 10 am – 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Have you ever had SPAM? What's your favorite way to enjoy SPAM?

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information for this post.

CiCi's Drink Up Summer Promotion & $5 Buffets in July! *

*No compensation was received for this post. A complimentary gift card and information about the promotion was provided. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

Yesterday was just one of those days. I hadn't planned anything specific for dinner...I should know better than to not plan out my menu for the week...so I sent my husband a text asking, what should we have for dinner. He sent back a suggestion that felt a little 'eh' about, so I said so.

Then, he suggested CiCi's Pizza. I had been planning to suggest that for this weekend knowing that they were running their $5 Buffet special and because I wanted to get new pictures of the kids - the picture studio we use is next door to our CiCi's. I told him that we could do that, if he could convince the kids that we were going to do pictures before dinner. They agreed, so I made a picture appointment and our dinner plans were set.

After the picture session, where the kids did better a job than usual of cooperating and getting through the session quickly, we headed next door to CiCi's. The line was out the door. Peeking in, we could see that the tables were mostly full and each time they cleared one, there was someone waiting to sit down. I wasn't completely surprised, they offer a good variety of pizzas on their buffet to appeal to everyone in the family, and in July, they are offering their buffet for just $5 a person (kids are cheaper - only $2.99, but that is the regular price). It was a reasonable night out, our total bill for the night was under $20. Not bad for a family dinner out that everyone enjoys.

I don't have Instagram, but if you do you will want to check out CiCi's Drink Up Summer Promotion that is running right now.

CiCi’s is giving fans the chance to win VIP vacations, grab instant-win prizes and get lucky with an Instagram contest.

Guests can visit their local CiCi’s for details on how to win one of four all-inclusive VIP vacations, one-day passes to SeaWorld or Busch Gardens or $25 in CiCi’s gift cards. The contest runs through Sept. 1.

In addition, throughout July, CiCi’s Pizza is offering its endless pizza, pasta, soup, salad and dessert buffet for just $5 at participating restaurants.

No compensation was received for this post. A complimentary gift card and information about the promotion was provided. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

Little Caesars - HOT-N-READY PIZZA-N-WINGS and a Giveaway

I don't know about you, but sometimes when life gets busy like it does as we prep for the holidays, I am thankful for the opportunity to take a break from cooking and pick something up for dinner. With the $5 HOT-N-READY Large Pepperoni Pizza and the $6 HOT-N-READY Caesar Wings, Little Caesars is one place that this can be easily done. Of course, I would have to add in an order of their Crazy Bread, because I simply can't resist it.

Have you seen their new commercials? I enjoy the quirkiness of their commercials.

Picking up a large, HOT-N-READY pizza from Little Caesars is so easy, why even a mime can do it! No calling, no waiting, just a large, pepperoni pizza, fresh out of the oven, whenever you walk in! And don't forget to add a delicious order of our HOT-N-READY Caesar Wings!

Mime


Then, there is this commercial too:

Stargazer


Learn more about Little Caesars on their site or find a store near you here.

Join up with Little Caesars on Facebook and Twitter.

Giveaway!

Courtesy of Little Caesars, I have the opportunity to give away to 1 (one) A Busy Mom of Two reader a $10 Gift Card to Little Caesars. You could try both their $5 HOT-N-READY Large Pepperoni Pizza and the $6 HOT-N-READY Caesar Wings, for only $1 with this gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through December 26th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. Little Caesars provided my family with a $5 gift card, as well as the information for this post and the gift card for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Getting Creative with Leftovers - Hamburger Buns

I love to host parties and gatherings. I think that it all started as a child, where I would watch my parents host an annual Christmas party and regularly host friends for cards. Of course, the biggest part of any party or gathering is the food. I love making and serving a variety of foods. Frequently, parties are my only chance to make many of the foods that I love and can only prep when I have a large gathering to help me eat them (otherwise, I would seriously over-indulge on many of my favorites).

One of the challenges of hosting a party is having the right amount of food. I frequently find myself with leftovers. I don't want to waste food, so I find myself looking for creative solutions for eating the leftovers without feeling like you are eating the same thing over and over again.

My son's birthday party was last week (I'll have to share the cake) and we did a cook-out. We bought extra buns and had extra meat to go with them until a grill fire resulted in a loss of some heavily sooted/smoked meat. The net outcome was a large amount of buns remaining.

So, my weekly menu moved into creativity mode. How could I use up a number of buns and not feel like the meals were the same every night?

Generally, when I am doing the weekly meal plan and trying to come up with ideas for dinner, sandwiches are not something that comes to mind. I enjoy sandwiches - sloppy joes, cheesesteak, hamburgers, and such. Typically, if I'm having a sandwich for dinner, I definitely want for it to be a warm sandwich - cold cuts are for lunch. But, if you take that same cold cut sandwich and turn it into a Panini - that is dinner! Did you know that August is National Panini Month? I'm thinking it is something about having a warm meal without heating up the kitchen - but that is just my theory.

If you don't have a Panini maker or press, you can actually just double up with a skillet or frying pan to make your panini. Simply prepare your cooking skillet with a bit of oil or spray and put it over medium heat. Add your sandwich and top with the other skillet. Add some weight to your skillet - a can would work. Cook for a couple of minutes, turn and repeat.

I actually have had a grill pan for a while and recently bought a panini press from Pampered Chef. I like that I get the fun grill lines that way. Plus, it is a great way to cook chicken faster.

The great thing about having paninis for dinner is that everyone can customize their sandwich to their likes. I like making mine a bit more fancy, but the kids like theirs more simple - and I can accomplish that without feeling like I am making several meals.

Tonight was panini night. We had the following options to choose from: chicken, pepperoni - regular sliced and turkey minis, provolone cheese, hot pepper cheese, spaghetti sauce, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, roasted red peppers, and mayonnaise. We served the paninis with red pepper strips, potato chips and homemade onion dip.

My son decided to have a bit of chicken and pepperoni with hot pepper cheese for his sandwich, with banana peppers on the side. My daughter chose simply pepperoni and provolone for her panini. My husband chose pepperoni, hot pepper cheese, jalapeno peppers, and tomato sauce. I went with chicken, provolone, roasted red peppers and mayonnaise.

With my grill pan, I could do two sandwiches at a time, making a total of six sandwiches (the hamburger buns make reasonably small sandwiches). I like how the cheese is just barely melted and the sandwich is warm throughout.

I think that next time, I'd like to use some chicken, cucumber, red pepper strips, tomatoes and a bit of hummus on my panini. Just thinking about the combination of the crunch and the warm, juiciness of the tomato (I love warm tomatoes on a sandwich) is making my mouth water.

What would you put on your panini? You can find some recipe inspiration for paninis like Bacon and Spinach Panini and Turkey Red Pepper Panini on Hormel's website.

(In case you were wondering, we used buns four nights this week - the first night we turned them into garlic bread as a side for our pasta, the second night I made them into personal pizzas, the third night we had egg, cheese and bacon sandwiches, and of course, paninis tonight. We even toasted up a couple one night for a snack with butter and jelly. It was fun finding creative ways to use them.)


No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided a thought starter and some of the information for this post.

Quick Prep Meals

As the kids are about to start their spring sports season, I am once again preparing to include many quick prep meals in my weekly menu plan. Eating dinner together as a family on as many nights as possible is important to me. During sports season, with practices and games it can make this a little more challenging. This is when I turn to quick prep meals (and the occasional picked up pizza).

At our house, we seem to have a mix of conflicts.

Some practices/games start early in the evening and we plan our dinner for after the game. On those days, we start by grabbing a small snack before the game/practice. Generally, I try to encourage them to have yogurt or a granola bar. Something that will give them a bit of energy without being too much food. Then, I plan a dinner that can be made after the practice/game, while the kids shower. Some of our favorites (and my approach) are:

Tacos - by cooking the meat and prepping the toppings the night before, I can quickly warm the meat in a skillet and set out a taco bar for everyone to enjoy a satisfying meal.

Chicken Caesar Salads - if I plan the menu right, we can have grilled chicken for dinner one night and follow it up with Chicken Caesar Salad the next night. By using bagged salad, the preparation is quick and the meal satisfying.

Hamburgers on the Grill - we use the frozen, premade burgers. They are quick to prepare and topped with lettuce and tomato make a quick and tasty meal.

Pizza - we pick it up on the drive home. We have a shop that does $5 large pizzas, so it is still pretty economical.

Breakfast for Dinner - whether the Tyson Breakfast Bowls that I shared earlier this week or pancakes or scrambled eggs, breakfast seems to be a quick prep meal.

Some practices/games start later in the evening and we plan our dinner before the game. This allows us a lot more flexibility. Clearly, we don't want to eat as we are rushing out the door and we need to make sure that we aren't eating too heavy that the kids feel sick while they are running around. Some of our favorites (and my approach) are:

Baked Chicken - whether we are using the new Fresh Take option from Kraft or simply baking chicken with barbeque sauce, my husband, who is home to get my son off the bus, will put the chicken in the oven so that it is ready to go on the table when my daughter and I walk in the door. A quick side of vegetables or a side salad, round out the meal.

Casseroles/Lasagne/Enchiladas - I prep the dish the night before or in the morning and leave it in the refrigerator. My husband can put it in the oven at the right point for us to enjoy a warm meal when we get home.

Freezer meals - frequently casseroles/lasagne/enchiladas are freezer meals, but there are other meals that I will put up in the freezer that will allow for quick prep. Meals like Chicken Gravy over Biscuits, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chili, and Sloppy Joes are meals that are ready to heat and eat in my freezer most of the time.

Of course, the options for after practice/game work was well.

I leave the 'fancy' meals for the days where we have more time.

Having a variety of quick prep meals allows my family to enjoy dinner together even when the schedules are busy with sports. This works for me.

Tyson Chicken Grilled and Ready

As with any busy mom, there are times that are more busy than others. Right now, we are between sports. Sure, we still have swimming lessons, but that is simply a one night a week commitment. Late Spring and Summer seem to be our busy time. There are generally three nights a week that we have either practice or a game for soccer and baseball.

Even during these times, family meals are important to me (and to my family!). The challenge with family meals during the busy season is that sometimes we are trying to eat before practice, which generally means I have mere minutes from walking in the door to when I need to have dinner on the table, or we are eating after practice, which means that we are pushing into bedtime and I still have a constrained time frame in which to make dinner. The flip side of the challenge is that I want to provide my family with a healthy meal. Sure, I could run through this drive thru or that or pick up carry out every night, but whereas these make nice treats, they can't be a regular part of our menu.

One shortcut that I have found that works well for me is Tyson® Grilled & Ready™ Frozen or Refrigerated Chicken Strips. Many of our favorite meals start with chicken. Normally, the preparation of the chicken is part of the recipe/meal preparation, but with Tyson Chicken Grilled and Ready, I can side step that part of the preparation and move right into the meal. They can make meal preparation a cinch.

The easiest meal is to use them along with some Romaine and Parmesan for a quick Chicken Caesar salad. Served with a loaf of bread, it is a hearty (and yet reasonably light and healthy) meal.

Sometimes, I will take the strips and dice them to use for chicken tacos. I can cut up my toppings in advance (usually the night before), so a quick warm up of the chicken with a little taco seasoning and we are ready to eat.

Making a pasta dish? Simply prep your favorite sauce and add the chicken, while the noodles cook. I like to saute some onions and garlic in a pan. Then, add some canned petite diced tomatoes to the pan. Add the chicken to the sauce, as strips or dice it up if you prefer. Since I generally serve this with Angel Hair, which cooks in a matter of minutes, it is a quick, flavorful meal that I can get on the table on a busy sport night.

The chicken strips also work well for wraps. Grab some of your favorite flavored wraps, along with some tomatoes, lettuce, onions and condiments and let your family build their favorite wrap. You can also add in bacon or cheese. Serve with a side of carrots and celery and/or a cup of fresh fruit salad for a quick balanced meal.

Giveaway
Tyson has provided with a Free Coupon, so that two (2) A Busy Mom of Two readers can each experience one (1) bag of Tyson Grilled & Ready Frozen or Refrigerated Chicken Strips.

To enter, leave a comment telling me what recipe you make for your family that you would use the Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips in. If you have a link to your recipe, share it - I'm always looking to try new recipes!

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Giveaway will remain open until April 21st at 6pm and is open to US residents. Winners will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winners will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. Tyson provided me with coupons to both try their Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips and to share with my readers as a giveaway.