Wednesday, October 31, 2012

National Pizza Month

I don't know about you, but I don't need a special occasion to enjoy pizza. However, I guess it is sort of nice that they dedicate a whole month to celebrating all that is pizza. October is National Pizza Month, as was first observed back in 1984. Gerry Durnell, the founder of Pizza Today magazine, chose October because the first issue of his magazine debuted in October of 1984.

Pizza is a popular treat, enjoyed at least once a month by 94% of Americans. As a girl from the Midwest married to a man from New Jersey, I can tell you that what people consider to be the ideal pizza can vary greatly. So, can the toppings that they enjoy. If I am eating out, I am a fan of the thin crust pizzas cut into squares or a nice hand-tossed pizza. I enjoy a variety of toppings (not necessarily on one pizza) - crumbled sausage, banana peppers, green peppers, onions, green olives, pepperoni. I also like the deep dish Chicago pizzas full of all that glorious ooey-gooey cheese. Some of my favorite, non-pizza place pizzas, include toppings like feta cheese, kalamata olives, caramelized onions, fresh sliced tomatoes - of course, prepared in a brick oven. My husband on the other hand needs a large pizza that has a doughy crust that can easily be folded for eating - New York Style he calls it. I can tell you that here in Ohio, it is very hard to find good New York Style pizza.

One thing we can all agree on is that we enjoy homemade pizza. When I was a kid, I can remember my mom making pizza crust from a box mix. It was a nice thin pizza that you ate with a fork. I tend to use frozen bread dough to make most of my homemade pizza, but sometimes, whether to mix it up or to use up leftovers, I also like to use other crusts.

When we have bagels, English Muffins, Hoagie Rolls, French Bread or hamburger rolls on hand, I like to make pizzas on them. It is fun because each pizza can be built the way they like it. We can add onions to one and green olives to another. It can be heavy on sauce or light. With or without pepperoni. The choice is theirs. They are the chef. Plus, these mini-pizzas are fun to eat.

Have you seen the new Pizza Toppings from Hormel?
I love that I can now have crumbled sausage or crumbled beef to add to my pizza. One of my favorite non-traditional pizzas to make is Cheeseburger Pizza. I've shared it before, but here it is (updated), in case you missed it.

Cheeseburger Pizza
1 package Hormel Beef Crumbles or 1/2# ground beef, browned and drained
1 pre-baked shell
1/2 c Ketchup
Mustard
2 c shredded sharp cheddar
onion rings

Place shell on baking sheet. Spread ketchup on shell and then add mustard in a criss-cross fashion. Top with beef, cheese and onion rings.

Bake in a preheated oven at 425 for 12-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and onion rings browned.

How do you enjoy your pizzas? What type of crust/style is your favorite?

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.


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Safeskin Kids Review & Giveaway

"Kimberly-Clark, the makers of Safeskin , has been a trusted brand of quality medical products for 30 years. Their products are used daily by doctors, dentists, nurses, clinics and hospitals around the world to ensure patients receive the best. Now we are bringing that expertise to your children through Safeskin Kids First Aid products.

SAFESKIN KIDS Antibacterial Gel is a long lasting protective barrier for applying to minor cuts, scrapes, burns and creates a barrier for MRSA — up to 48 hours!"

I don't know about your house, but at our house we seem to go through bandages like they are going out of style. My son is pretty good about only needing a bandage to keep a wound clean, but my daughter seems to need them for everything that hurts - from cuts to scrapes to bruises. When there is a scrape or scratch, I always apply an antibacterial cream/gel to the wound before putting on a bandage. Safeskin Kids Antibacterial Gel is easy to rub in and is a little less greasy than some other antibacterial products. This is good, because I always seem to have a little on the surrounding skin, where the bandage needs to stick and I have had issues in the past with the bandage sort of sliding off. I really like that it provides 48 hour protection. Now, we also seem to take off bandages before 48 hours has passed, so of course, we still need to clean the wound and reapply the cream.

Safeskin Kids Antibacterial Gel is available now at select Walmart stores. Use this $1 Safeskin Kids IP to try it for yourself.

Giveaway!
I have the opportunity to give away to one A Busy Mom of Two Reader a tube of Safeskin Kids Antibacterial Gel.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway will remain open through November 19th. 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. I received free product and information as part of a promotional program with SAFESKIN* Kids Antibacterial Gel and MomSelect. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Monday, October 29, 2012

CVS Scenarios - week of 10/29

There are a number of things that I plan to pick up this week at CVS. I am half tempted to go back on Thursday to get some 1/2 price candy, but am wondering how that might work with some of this weeks ECB deals. For those that are spend $$ get $, I am wondering if they will exclude post Halloween clearance and just be no longer available.

Transaction #1
1 - Naturemade Fish Oil
1 - Naturemade Vitamin C (the right sizes to get to $20 total)

-$1 Naturemade mfg coupon
-$1 Naturemade mfg coupon

Total about $18, earn $5 ECBs. I think I might just have a $5/$20 CRT for vitamins, but need to confirm when it expires.

Transaction #2
3 - Chex Mix/Gardettos
1 - Dawn Dish Soap

-$1 $1/2 Chex/Gardettos mfg coupon
-$.50 Chex IP
-$.50 Dawn mfg coupon

Total $4.99, pay with $5 ECB adjusted down. Earn $2 ECBs.

Transaction #3
2 - Tootsie Pops (my husband likes them)

Total $4, pay with $2 ECBs and $2 OOP. Earn $1 ECB.

Transaction #4
2 - Dawn Dish Soap

-$.50 Dawn mfg coupon
-$.50 Dawn mfg coupon

Total $.98, pay with $1 ECB adjust down.

For the trip, the total OOP is about $20 for $33 in product at sale prices, a savings of about 40%.

For more deals and scenarios, check out Money Saving Mom and Deal Seeking Mom.

CVS $5 Challenge

Transaction #1
3 - Chex Mix/Gardettos

-$1 $1/2 Chex/Gardettos mfg coupon
-$.50 Chex IP

Total $4.50 OOP. Earn $2 ECBs.

Transaction #3
4 - Dawn Dish Soap

-$.50 Dawn mfg coupon
-$.50 Dawn mfg coupon
-$.50 Dawn mfg coupon
-$.50 Dawn mfg coupon

Total $1.96, pay with $2 ECB adjust down.

Total OOP of $4.50 for $10 in product at sale prices, a savings of about 55%.

For more $5 Scenarios, check out the CVS $5 Challenge.