Food

February 8, 2013

Valentine’s Idea: Give Baked Goodies

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t need extraordinary, over-the-top romantic gestures to make me feel loved on Valentine’s Day. Seriously, I’m the type of woman who is completely down for a bouquet of grocery store flowers, a handmade card, or breakfast in bed. Those things make my heart beat a little faster just as much as a more expensive present would. If you’re the same way, here are two awesome baked gifts you can give (or receive) this Valentine’s Day:

Cookie-Brownie Delight

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Walmart sent me a box of Nestle’s Cookie Brownie Delight to try. Two of my favorite things in one recipe? Count me in!

The instructions on the box were super easy to follow, and my daughter got in on the action.

She mixed the brownie batter and the cookie dough, separately, according to the instructions on the package.

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Then, with a little help from me, she spooned the brownie and cookie mixes into a muffin pan, with the cookie dough on top.

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The result? Deliciously gooey, chocolatey treats that both she and I couldn’t wait to try. So yes…I forgot about me weight loss for a night and enjoyed the treat — though I won’t share the number of calories in each one!

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We’re going to buy another box so my daughter can make some more to deliver to her dad on Valentine’s morning. They were seriously that good. I’m sure noone would object to this gift.

Decorate Your Own Cookies

We sampled yet another sweet Valentine’s treat: the Decorate Your Own Cookie kit, to be found in the Walmart bakery. Also known as the shortcut cookie kit for lazy bakers like me.

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As you can see, the kit comes with pre-made cookies and all the toppings you could want to decorate them to your heart’s content, including icing and sprinkles.

My daughter and I actually made a challenge of this one to see who could decorate the coolest cookie.

Here’s her cookie:

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Here’s my cookie:

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And the unofficial result according to my husband? It was a tie. But I’ll personally give the win to my daughter

I’m saving the other cookies so I can give her a treat on Valentine’s Day when she comes home from school. Paired with a new stuffed animal friend, and maybe some sparkling apple cider, this will be the perfect gift for my sweet little girl. And I didn’t have to do any actual baking. Winning!

DISCLOSURE: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, I’ve received product and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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January 23, 2013

Garden Lites Souffles Make Great Meal Starters

My family eats a lot of fruit, but we aren’t very adventurous when it comes to vegetables. We generally eat the same veggies meal after meal: broccoli, spinach, carrots, green beans & celery, with some peppers and lettuce thrown in for good measure. I won’t count potatoes or corn, since we usually count those as a starch. Sadly, that’s probably true for a lot of families. I know that we need to find a way to add more vegetables to our diet. So though I’m generally very picky about food, that’s why I was willing to try Garden Lites Vegetable Souffles from Walmart.

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The description sounded good: they’re gluten free, all natural and vegetarian. But to be honest, I’d never eaten anything that could be classified as a “souffle” before, so I was a tad skeptical. Of course, my husband and daughter, who will try anything once, were more than happy to lend their taste buds to this little experiment.

We tried the zucchini souffle, the butternut squash souffle, and the roasted vegetable souffle. They can be prepared in the microwave or in the oven. Because we’re not big fans of heating plastic in the microwave, we chose the oven.

The first thing you’ll notice is that they smell really good — much better than you’d expect from a veggie dish. They’re also really tasty, and my husband and daughter loved them. The butternut squash was by far the biggest flavor hit.

Though I can’t vouch for the microwave method, using the oven left the top crust of the souffles nice and crisp. However, while I liked the flavor and the texture of the outer crust, I wasn’t a big fan of the inside of the souffles. I have a thing with food textures, and the insides were just too mushy for me. This may be typical of this kind of dish, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

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I did, however, appreciate the fact that the nutritional information was so prominent on the packaging, Each souffle contains 2 servings of vegetables, 8-9g of protein and between 140 & 180 calories for the entire souffle. I can see how it would make a great lunch with some fruit or a small serving of meat on the side, or a side for a relatively low-calorie dinner.

We received quite a few boxes, so I’ll continue to give them a chance. If I can get past the texture, we’ll probably buy these again, because they’re a quick, easy way to add vegetables to a meal without having to think too much about it, and they really do smell and taste great.

DISCLOSURE: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, I’ve received product samples and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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January 21, 2013

Peter Rabbit Organics Makes Great, Healthy Snacks

My daughter is a serial snacker. But what 7-year-old kid isn’t, right? The problem is keeping her away from junky snacks and keeping her eating healthier options. We keep fruit in the house and let her eat them whenever she wants, but sometimes, she just wants something that doesn’t “feel” like fruit.

Enter Peter Rabbit Organics.

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These natural snacks, available at Walmart, are made for infants and older kids alike and contain fruit and veggies in sweet, tasty mixes. We received three flavors to try: peach & apple; sweet potato, corn & apple; and carrot, squash & apple.

The verdict? My daughter loves them! She tried the peach & apple flavor first and said it tasted a lot like applesauce. She did say, though, that she prefers the flavor and texture when the snacks are refrigerated, rather than room temperature. It didn’t make much of a difference to me, but I was happy to refrigerate them for her benefit. And best of all, there’s no added sugar.

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I personally liked the sweet potato, corn & apple. The three flavors are balanced really well, and my daughter liked this one too. She didn’t like the carrot, squash & apple flavor quite as much, so if I were to buy them in the future, I’d probably choose the others.

She has to take a snack to school every day, and I can easily imagine buying these to freeze and put in her school bag. They’d be defrosted by snack time, but still cold, and the packaging will protect her bag from nasty spills.

My biggest criticisms? While the packaging is BPA-free, I wish it were also recyclable. Also, as a parent, if I saw these on the shelf, I’d think they were baby food and thus, never think to buy them for my 7-year-old. Perhaps it’s the word “puree” on some of the packaging. The phrase “100% pure fruit snack” was more appealing, but that obviously wouldn’t apply to every flavor. Maybe that problem could be avoided by placing it on the shelf with snacks for older kids, rather than in the baby food section.

Overall, though, we’d try these again, as some of the other flavors — particularly the fruit blends — look really appetizing. Mango, banana & orange, anyone?

DISCLOSURE: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, I’ve received product samples and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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January 20, 2013

Cuties Makes Juice Now? Why Yes, They Do!

Since I started working on my health, I’ve been drinking water almost exclusively. However, on the rare occasions when I do indulge in something else to drink, it’s usually 100% juice. And I’m typically very protective of it since I don’t drink it often. Which means, of course, that my daughter always wants MY special juice. Well, I finally have something to appease her taste buds.

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You’ve probably heard of Cuties, those small tangerines that kids seem to love so much because they’re sweet, really easy to peel and have no seeds. Well, the company now makes Cuties Juice in a variety of flavors, and it is every bit as awesome as it sounds.

It is 100% juice with no added sugar and, as you’d expect, contains the juice from Cuties tangerines, along with other fruit juices. They’re available at Walmart in convenient 8 oz. bottles or 48 oz. bottles for the whole family to share.

Some of the flavors have a thicker consistency, more like a smoothie than a traditional juice, including my daughter’s favorite: tangerine strawberry. And what kind of mother would I be if I didn’t get a taste too? It’s sweet with just enough berry flavor to make it awesome. It does contain about 30g of sugar, but I’d much rather have my daughter drinking natural fruit sugar than high fructose corn syrup.

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The other flavors are pretty awesome too: tangerine blueberry (delicious!), tangerine pineapple (my personal favorite), tangerine orange pineapple (in the large bottle) and clementine mandarin (more juice than smoothie, but just as tasty). We’ve found them to be a great alternative to a small glass of orange juice with breakfast, and my daughter feels like she’s getting a treat. She’s already asking us to buy more!

Plus, I admit my husband and I are really fond of them as well. But don’t tell our daughter.

DISCLOSURE: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, I’ve received a product sample and compensation for my time and effort in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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January 16, 2013

Citrus Celebration? Count Me In!

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During the winter, my family loads up on Vitamin C. Call it paranoia, but the downtime and general misery left behind by the cold and flu make it more than worth trying to find ways to avoid getting sick. And while vitamin supplements are great, I’d much prefer that we get our vitamins from food.

So when Walmart told me they were having a “Citrus Celebration” and challenged me to try some citrus fruit we’d never tried before, I jumped at the chance.

First, I had no idea there were so many varieties of citrus. Things with unique name like pummelo, and the slightly unnerving blood orange. We typically just buy standard California oranges and the occasional grapefruit. This was a great chance to get a little adventurous.

Moro Blood Orange

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The images on the packaging showed literally blood red pulp inside the fruit. When I cut open my first blood orange, the inside was more orange with tinges of red, which is why it’s not bright red in the photo above. However, every subsequent one was exactly as its name implies — blood red, just like it’s shown on the packaging. More importantly though, they were delicious. Slightly sour, but not bitter. More like the sour candy you loved as a kid and wanted to eat all the time. It had a more intense flavor than a typical orange. Distinctly tropical, almost like berries that were not quite ripe. Unique and delicious.

Cara Cara Orange

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These were the smallest of the fruit we tried. The pulp was a very deep orange, and it was seedless, juicy (though not enough to squirt), sweet and tangy, and easily my daughter’s favorite of the four varieties we tried. In fact, she’s eaten one nearly every day since.

Minneola Tangelo

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These are shaped like tangerines with a “nipple” on top, and like tangerines, the skin was thin enough to peel by hand. This was my favorite variety, close to perfect but for the fact that it contains a LOT of seeds. It was sweet and tasted more like a tangerine than an orange. It didn’t have a lot of pulp, but was incredibly juicy. Like squirt all over the table when cutting or peeling it. I kept thinking it would be perfect for making orange juice. Or would that be Minneola juice?

Pummelo

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I wasn’t sure what to think of this fruit. Its skin is a gorgeous green, and it is bigger than a grapefruit with a thin skin, but super thick rind. When cut in half, the rind created distinct chambers, and the pulp was a beautiful pink. I dare say, this was the prettiest of the citrus varieties. It tasted like a hybrid grapefruit/orange — slightly bitter, with a sweet aftertaste. This was my least favorite of the fruit we tried, probably because I’m not a huge fan of grapefruit. I also love that a single pummelo is more than large enough for the whole family to enjoy.

I’m so happy that we strayed from our typical fruit buying habits to try these. We’ll be buying these again — though probably not at the same time. It’ll be a while before my family can get through all of these, but at least we’ll know we’re getting more than enough vitamin C.

DISCLOSURE: I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation for sharing their Citrus Celebration with you. Participation is voluntary and, as usual, all opinions are my own.

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January 14, 2013

Healthy Eating: Tomato Shrimp Penne with Spinach & Strawberry Salad

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Since I started my weight loss and healthy living journey last summer, my husband and I have had to come up with healthier meals that my whole family is willing to eat. This recipe is the result of some improvisation on the part of my husband with ingredients we happened to have on hand.

So when Walmart challenged me to share a healthy recipe for the New Year, I knew this would be a great choice that anyone can replicate.

Tomato Shrimp Penne

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Whole wheat penne pasta
Shrimp
Grape or cherry tomatoes
4 tbsp. light Italian dressing
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1/2 cup finely chopped red, yellow & green peppers
1 tbsp. oregano
Salt & pepper to taste

Cook the whole wheat pasta to package instructions.

While it is boiling, remove the tails from the shrimp. Saute the peppers and garlic for 2-3 minutes. Add the shrimp and sprinkle salt, pepper and oregano to taste and saute for 2-3 minutes. Finally, add the tomatoes. Cover the mixture and simmer for 3-4 minutes.

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Drain the pasta, but do not rinse, and put it back in the pot. Add Italian dressing and mix to thoroughly cover pasta. If you’re watching your sodium intake, you can half the amount of Italian dressing or leave it out altogether.

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Add shrimp mixture to pasta and mix thoroughly.

Makes: 6 servings

The key to keeping this healthy is not to stuff yourself on pasta. Eat a small serving and use some greenery to fill up your plate. Here’s a simple, two ingredient salad you’ll never have to force yourself to eat.

Spinach & Strawberry Salad

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6+ cups raw, organic baby spinach
12 strawberries

Cut strawberries into quarters. Toss the strawberries together with the spinach.

Makes: 6 servings

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The sweetness of the strawberries makes an awesome counterpoint to the slight bitterness of the raw spinach. Great sprinkled with a small amount of light Italian or Balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

DISCLOSURE: I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation for sharing a healthy recipe with you. Participation is voluntary and, as usual, all opinions are my own.

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December 13, 2012

Easy Holiday Recipe: Crispy Bacon & Tomato Triangles

This time of year, I have a never-ending To Do list. Work, writing, DIY projects, shopping, wrapping, cleaning, organizing. I’m not an eager cook on a good day, so when I have that much other stuff to do, any recipe I make has to be as simple as it is delicious.

I’m always looking for quick recipes I can throw together with some pre-made ingredients that could serve as an appetizer or as a meal in a pinch. For your holiday parties and get-togethers, here’s a recipe that meets all that criteria.

Crispy Bacon & Tomato Triangles

1 Flatout® Rustic Italian Flatbread
1⁄2 cup MarketsideTM Jalapeño & Artichoke Dip
1 tbs. cooked bacon, crumbled
1 tomato – thinly sliced
1 tbs. chopped green onion
2 tbs. Kraft® Parmesan Shredded Cheese

Preheat your oven to 400° F. Spread dip across flatbread with a large spoon or spatula. Lay tomato sliced on top of dip. If you’re like me and you don’t eat pork, you can substitute turkey bacon for pork bacon. Sprinkle crumbled bacon and green onions on top of tomatoes and dip. Sprinkle Kraft® Parmesan Shredded Cheese on top. Place directly on oven rack and bake for 8-12 minutes or until flatbread is crispy. Cut into triangles.

Makes: 8 triangle pieces

With just a couple of ingredients, you can make this quickly and easily, even for a last-minute party. Feel free to watch me awkwardly demonstrate how simply this can be done:

Yeah, I’m wincing too. I really need to work on my on-camera skills. But the recipe really is good, though Try it and tell me what you think!

DISCLOSURE: I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation for sharing this holiday recipe idea with you. Participation is voluntary and, as usual, all opinions are my own.

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October 2, 2012

Backpack Programs are Fighting Childhood Hunger (+ What You Can Do)

For those of us who are able to provide three meals a day for our families, it may be difficult to imagine that there are millions of children throughout the nation who go to school hungry. They rely on the free or reduced price breakfast and lunch they via the National School Lunch program, but what happens when they go home for the day? For the weekend?

On more than one occasion, I have written about Walmart’s efforts to fight childhood hunger. This is one of those issues that is important enough to require constant focus, because it is an issue that we can all help solve together.

One of the ways Walmart is working to end childhood hunger is the BackPack Program, in partnership with Feeding America:

Maybe you’ve never heard of it, but for more than 15 years, the BackPack Program has provided kids with nutritious, easy-to-prepare food to sustain them for the weekend. Nearly 230,000 children are helped by this program every year.

But this program is just one among a myriad of ways Walmart is working to fight hunger. In addition, the company has committed to donating more than 1.1 billion pounds of food from Walmart stores, distribution centers and Sam’s Club locations and awarding $250 million in grants to support hunger relief organizations. Click here or check out the Live Better Facebook app to learn more about their efforts.

As I mentioned above, there are millions of children who need help, and all of us can pitch in. You can encourage your elected officials to implement nutrition programs, help your child’s school start a garden or donate to or volunteer at a local food bank. Download this PDF for tons of ideas on how you and everyone else in your community can participate.

Disclosure: I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation for sharing my the BackPack Program and their hunger-fighting efforts with you. Participation is voluntary and as usual, all opinions are my own.

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