Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Nesco Roaster
I've used my new Nesco Roaster a few times since I received it. It's packed with features and it's easy to use and clean! Most versatile appliance ever made! This is one of the original Nescos®, just like the one that Grandma had, but better! The Nesco Roaster roasts, bakes, cooks, steams, slow cooks, and serves all in one. It's unique "Circle of Heat®" heating element provides moist, even cooking. It's perfect for a batch of chili or soup, a chicken, pot roast, or cornish game hens.
Features
• Porcelain coated cookwell is removable for easy clean up.
• Unique "Circle of Heat™" heating element for moist, even cooking.
• Full 6-Quart capacity serves up to 6 people.
• Removable chrome rack for better baking and fat-free roasting.
• Adjustable temperature control. (125-425ºF)
• Large enough to hold a chicken, pot roast, or turkey breast.
• 750 watts, 120 Volts
My favorite feature? I can use my roaster oven as a slow cooker and it doesn't just boil my food! I'm in control with multiple temperature settings. It's interior is great for browning meat before roasting or slow cooking. My (much) more expensive slow cooker has this feature, but the fact that this cooker can be purchased for under $50 makes me recommend this more. It has all the bells and whistles. My only issue with the cooker was having to "season" it. I didn't read the instructions first, and I waited until the last minute to use it. After realizing I had to "cook" an empty roaster for a few hours, I had to make alternate dinner plans. Also, be aware, the smell can be quite strong while you are "seasoning" it. After cooling it and washing it, I was never bothered again. I also wish the handles (at least) would stay cool during the cooking cycle. The unit does an awesome job roasting and slow cooking. I haven't tried other methods yet, but I am excited to have the options! I've made beef stew and roasted a chicken. I'm very happy with the results! The unit is quite sturdy and I can see why so many love it! Get yours on sale now! Check out Nesco Roasters and see all the options! They offer non-stick coatings and larger roaster ovens, up to 18 Quarts!
Disclosure: I was sent a Nesco Roaster Oven in order to complete this review. No monetary compensation received.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Pillsbury Giveaway!
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to show those who are near and dear just how much you care with a treat straight from the heart and fresh from the oven! New Valentine’s Day Pillsbury® Ready to Bake!™ Shape® Cookies will fill your home with love and now the magic of Disney®. Whether you bake these cookies for, or with your loved ones, Pillsbury Ready to Bake Shape Cookies are perfect for bringing those you love most together on Valentine’s Day! Quick and convenient, Pillsbury Ready to Bake! Shape Cookies are ready to enjoy in 8-10 minutes and can be found at your local grocer! I always try to have Ready to Bake Cookies on hand. They are a great treat for our weekly "kid's night" and I love to pop them in the oven before guests arrive. They make the house smell wonderful! We can celebrate the holiday with our family’s favorite Disney characters, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Disney Princesses Belle, Cinderella and Tiana. Around here, Mickey wins!
Visit this link to download a printable coupon for $1.10 off of the purchase of (1) package of Pillsbury Ready to Bake! Shape Cookies today!
I received a great prize pack containing:
A VIP coupon to purchase a package of Pillsbury Ready to Bake! Shape Cookies, Cookie Jar, Cookie Spatula, and an Oven Mitt!
I'm also giving a prize pack to one lucky US reader! To enter, tell me which Disney Character would be more popular at your house! Leave your answer in a comment below. Like Pillsbury on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for two entries each!
Get one bonus entry for each of the following:
Blog about this giveaway
Google+1 this post
Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect
Follow on Networked Blogs
Follow me on Facebook!
Follow my second blog, Away We Go!
Enter another Gerber Babies Giveaway- one bonus entry/giveaway entered!
Giveaway ends midnight Feb 24, 2012. Good Luck!
Disclosure: The VIP coupon, prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Animal Krackers
When Logan was born, I became much more aware of germs. I shuddered at the thought of putting him into a high chair when we went out to eat. Before our first dining out experience as a family, I bought a cover so my baby would never accidentally touch any surface of those high chairs. After Sam arrived, I had a cover, but I was also spoiled with a portable high chair. It was great when I could use it. I discovered it didn't work with all tables. When I shopped around for a high chair for a special baby girl, I found several to choose from at Fisher-Price! Animal Krackers™ Home & Away™ 3-in-1 High Chair is perfect for home AND travel! It also serves as a booster seat!
The Animal Krackers Home & Away 3-in-1 High Chair has an easy to clean, attractive fabric. It's spill resistant and machine washable. It's: Better for Baby
Promotes Comfort & Security
• Three-position recline accommodates even the youngest eaters
• Fewer germs—easy-to-sanitize tray & cover!
Better for Mom
• Three products in one—great for home & away!
• Height adjusts to grow with baby
• Nano-Tex® spill-resistant fabrics are machine washable & easy to clean
• Convenience—tray removes with one hand (because baby might be in the other!)
• Casters make it easy to move around
It is lightweight and easy to fold. I wish it included a storage bag, but for the price, this is a really great bargain. Get yours at Babies 'R Us!
Disclosure: I was sent a high chair for a special little girl. No monetary compensation received.
Game Day! All About Pork!
Game Day is almost here! It's the perfect opportunity to share some recipes! The National Pork Board is working with Publix to feature a different cut of pork each week. I'll spread the word about the weekly deals and healthy eating plan. Maybe you'll give the recipes a try too! Our local Publix is great. It's clean and the staff (especially the meat dept. staff) is always helpful!
This week, try Boneless Pork Loin Chops. They cook quickly so they are perfect for last minute dinners. We have those a lot at my house! Ground Pork should be cooked to 160 degrees, but medium rare is the new standard for other cuts. Simply cook to 145 degrees and allow the meat to rest for three minutes. Afterwards, your pork should be juicy! Tonight, I cooked my Pork Chops in a skillet with a little spritz of olive oil. I rubbed them with garlic, smoked spanish paprika, and smoky seasoned salt. I usually have my husband grill them for extra flavor, but he had to go into work this evening. I didn't really mind though because they were so good! I used my new meat thermometer to make sure I had them at the perfect temp. They were so moist!

Almond-Stuffed Pork Chops
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients: 4 boneless pork loin chops, 1 1/4- inch thick
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup chopped almonds
1/4 cup celery, chopped
1/4 cup onion, chopped
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/8-1/4 teaspoon almond flavor
2 slices firm white bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 tablespoon browning and seasoning sauce, optional
1 tablespoon water
Cooking Directions:
For stuffing, melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook almonds, celery and onion in hot butter until vegetables are tender. Stir in the 2 tablespoons water, bouillon granules, parsley flakes and almond flavor. Add bread cubes; toss to moisten bread cubes. Cut opening in each chop from the outer side; widen opening into pocket, being careful not to cut through the other side of the chop. Fill pockets in chops with equal amounts of stuffing. Secure with toothpicks.
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Place stuffed chops on roasting rack in shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, until internal temperature is 145 degrees F. (check temperature in thickest part of meat), 35-45 minutes. Combine browning and seasoning sauce and 1 tablespoon water in small bowl, if desired; brush over chops. Bake for 2 minutes more. Remove toothpicks from chops.
Serves 4.
Serving Suggestions: Basic stuffed chops with almond crunch. Serve with a mixed green salad and sautéed green beans.
Nutrition: Calories: 433 calories
Protein: 39 grams
Fat: 26 grams
Sodium: 284 milligrams
Cholesterol: 117 milligrams
Saturated Fat: 9 grams
Carbohydrates: 10 grams
Fiber: 1 grams

Americas Cut Mushroom
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients: 4 boneless center pork loin chops, 1 1/2-inch thick
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon butter
4 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1/2 teaspoon thyme
8 ounces beer
Cooking Directions:
Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly flour chops and brown 2-3 minutes both sides. Remove. Add mushrooms and thyme to pan and saute for one minute. Return chops to skillet, add beer; bring to boil. Cover and simmer 12-15 minutes until internal temperature on a thermometer reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest time.
Serves 4.
Serving Suggestions: Want to dress up your pork chop? This easy mushroom sauce makes a simple pork chop into a great meal. Serve with steamed carrots and egg noodles.
Nutrition: Calories: 252 calories
Protein: 27 grams
Fat: 11 grams
Sodium: 100 milligrams
Cholesterol: 80 milligrams
Saturated Fat: 5 grams
Carbohydrates: 6 grams
Fiber: 1 grams
Random Cooking Tip:When you are in a hurry—turn to cuts that cook up quickly, such as chops, tenderloins and cutlets.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients: 4 6-7-ounce boneless pork loin chops, 1 1/4-inch thick
4 slices Bacon, thick-cut
Garlic-Mustard Butter, *
Cooking Directions:
Dry the chops with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. Wrap a strip of bacon around each one, securing with a toothpick. Cook as directly below to medium doneness. *Remove toothpick; serve chops with Garlic-Mustard Butter.
Broil: Broil 4 inches from heat source, 6-7 minutes. Turn and continue broiling to desired doneness, approximately 5-6 minutes until internal temperature on a thermometer reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest time. Panbroil: Heat grill pan over high heat; add chops, lower heat to medium-high and cook for 6-7 minutes, until nicely browned. Turn and continue cooking for about 5-6 minutes until internal temperature on a thermometer reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest time.
Grill: Prepare medium-hot fire in grill; grill chops over direct heat for 6-7 minutes; turn and grill 5-6 minutes until internal temperature on a thermometer reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest time. Serves 4
Serving Suggestions: Move over, filet mignon! These mighty bacon-wrapped chops have the taste territory covered! Top with Garlic-Mustard Butter. Serve with baked potato and steamed broccoli.
Random Cooking Tip: For marinated pork chops, put pork in a self-sealing bag with marinade in the refrigerator first thing in the morning. By suppertime, pork chops can be removed from marinade -dispose of used marinade- and ready to grill.
I hope you will be inspired to eat pork as part of a healthy, balanced diet and try these recipes! Download recipes here and get inspired by pork on Facebook! Win with their "Love Me Tenderloin Giveaway!" Follow @allaboutpork on twitter and look out for the #PublixforPork hashtag! Be sure to visit your local Publix and buy this week's pork special!
Disclosure: I was asked to be a part of this special campaign through The Motherhood, National Pork Board, and Publix. I received gift cards (and other goodies!) to purchase my ingredients. I was also compensated for my time and efforts to share my experience.
Friday, February 3, 2012
HearthSong Giveaway!
I don't know why, but soap-on-a-rope has always made me giggle. I never thought I would actually use it. After receiving an email from HearthSong, I saw their Heart Shaped Soap-on-a-Rope and skipped past it until I noticed one word. Rose. I love the scent of roses and I thought I'd give it a try. After it arrived, I opened it up. Before the box was opened, I could smell the roses. Afterwards, it was intoxicating! This long-lasting Heart-Shaped Soap-on-a-Rope is made using the finest natural, vegetable-based ingredients. It’s delicately scented with rose for a hint of sophistication. I've used it twice and I love the light scent it leaves on my skin. It hasn't dried my skin or irritated it in any way. I would definitely order this again! And guess what? That rope comes in handy! I'm not giggling anymore, that's for sure! Visit HearthSong for more Valentine's Day treats and gifts!
One US reader will win a Heart Shaped Soap-on-a-Rope from HearthSong! To enter, tell me which Valentine's Day gift at HearthSong you like the most! Leave your answer in a comment below! Like HearthSong on Facebook for two additional entries!
Get one bonus entry for each of the following:
Blog about this giveaway
Tweet this post
Post giveaway to Facebook
Google+1 this post
Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect
Follow on Networked Blogs
Follow me on Facebook!
Follow my second blog, Away We Go!
Giveaway ends midnight Feb 12, 2012. Good Luck!
Disclosure: I was sent a Soap-on-a-Rope in order to complete this review. No monetary compensation received.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Ocean Spray Giveaway With Four Winners!
My kids love fruit snacks and a few weeks ago, they hit the jackpot! They received six boxes of Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks which aren't lasting as long as I had hoped. Logan and Sam loved all the flavors and they hope to see watermelon in the future! If you are looking for a snack your kids will love and that you can feel good about, try new Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks! Available in two delicious varieties, Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks provide kids with the great tasting snacks they crave and parents with the confidence that they come from a good place.
Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks are:
†Made with real fruit juice and natural colors* and flavors.
80 calories, gluten free and contain 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C.
Available with year round Double Box Tops.
*colors from natural sources
†These Fruit Flavored Snacks are made with apple, pear, and cranberry juice concentrate. See package for a list of complete ingredients. They are not intended to replace fruit in the diet.
You can click here to download a printable coupon for $1.10 off of the purchase of (2) Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored snacks today!
Four US readers will win a package containing 6 boxes of Ocean Spray Fruit Snacks! To enter, tell me your favorite fruit flavor! Leave your answer in a comment below! Like Ocean Spray on Facebook for two additional entries!
Get one bonus entry for each of the following:
Blog about this giveaway
Tweet this post
Post giveaway to facebook
Google+1 this post
Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect
Follow on Networked Blogs
Follow me on Facebook!
Follow my second blog, Away We Go!
Giveaway ends midnight Feb 15, 2012. Good Luck!
Disclosure: I received the prize pack from Ocean Spray through MyBlogSpark. No monetary compensation received.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Valentine's Day Gifts At CVS!
A little over a week ago, I received a wonderful surprise in the mail! I had no idea what to expect as my husband (he's like a little kid when it comes to opening gifts!) ripped open the box. After removing the paper, he began to oooh and ahhh. Inside was a selection of three yummy chocolate valentines, a stuffed bear, a cool rose (with a message) in a vase, and an Elizabeth Arden "swag" bag full of perfumes! I knew CVS had a large selection of products, but I had no idea they offered such a variety of fragrances! I tried many new things from my gift box and I want to share a few of my favorites!
Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles. In a big, red, Valentine Heart! YUM. This, of course was my favorite. I hate to admit it, but I kept these to myself. With the exception of two. I wanted Logan and Sam to experience the creaminess and richness of my favorite truffle. Once...that's enough, right? I also received a big red heart containing another favorite, Godiva Gems! Inside were dark and milk chocolate gems. Listen up guys, you can't go wrong with either of these! I also received another larger, Russell Stover heart containing Turtles! If you like caramel and pecans surrounded by luscious chocolate, this one's for you! The heart shaped box was made with a really nice fabric and I think it would be a great gift idea for your Valentine!
Perfumes always make a nice gift but sometimes it's hard to pick out a fragrance for someone else. Once my husband did this for me and I didn't have the heart to tell him it just wasn't for me. I wore it rarely and I found myself telling a little fib when he asked why I didn't wear it all the time. I remember muttering something about saving it for really special occasions. Maybe that wasn't a total fib because I do wear it when we hang out together at home. I call that special, especially since he works all the time! With the huge assortment of perfumes in my gift bag, I found a few "safe" fragrances that may appeal to anyone with similar taste. I like floral (mostly) and my favorite everyday perfume is Burberry London. I really loved Go Couture Yourself and Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum Spray! Surprisingly, I liked the Brittney Spears and Mariah Carey fragrances that I received. I usually steer clear of those for more classic scents, but I am enjoying them immensely! I wore White Diamonds for years and my favorite aunt had a thing for Red Door. It was nice to see them in my bag and take a trip down memory lane!
There's no need to seach through the larger stores for that perfect gift. Avoid the lines and avoid the crowds and head over to your local CVS. They have almost everything you could want and they have awesome prices! And guess what? They have wrapping paper, gift bags, and greeting cards so you don't need to make any other stops! That's awesome!
Disclosure: I was sent a wonderful surprise box filled with an assortment of goodies! I was under no obligation to feature these products-all products mentioned were featured because I really enjoyed them and I hope you will too!
Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles. In a big, red, Valentine Heart! YUM. This, of course was my favorite. I hate to admit it, but I kept these to myself. With the exception of two. I wanted Logan and Sam to experience the creaminess and richness of my favorite truffle. Once...that's enough, right? I also received a big red heart containing another favorite, Godiva Gems! Inside were dark and milk chocolate gems. Listen up guys, you can't go wrong with either of these! I also received another larger, Russell Stover heart containing Turtles! If you like caramel and pecans surrounded by luscious chocolate, this one's for you! The heart shaped box was made with a really nice fabric and I think it would be a great gift idea for your Valentine!
Perfumes always make a nice gift but sometimes it's hard to pick out a fragrance for someone else. Once my husband did this for me and I didn't have the heart to tell him it just wasn't for me. I wore it rarely and I found myself telling a little fib when he asked why I didn't wear it all the time. I remember muttering something about saving it for really special occasions. Maybe that wasn't a total fib because I do wear it when we hang out together at home. I call that special, especially since he works all the time! With the huge assortment of perfumes in my gift bag, I found a few "safe" fragrances that may appeal to anyone with similar taste. I like floral (mostly) and my favorite everyday perfume is Burberry London. I really loved Go Couture Yourself and Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum Spray! Surprisingly, I liked the Brittney Spears and Mariah Carey fragrances that I received. I usually steer clear of those for more classic scents, but I am enjoying them immensely! I wore White Diamonds for years and my favorite aunt had a thing for Red Door. It was nice to see them in my bag and take a trip down memory lane!
There's no need to seach through the larger stores for that perfect gift. Avoid the lines and avoid the crowds and head over to your local CVS. They have almost everything you could want and they have awesome prices! And guess what? They have wrapping paper, gift bags, and greeting cards so you don't need to make any other stops! That's awesome!
Disclosure: I was sent a wonderful surprise box filled with an assortment of goodies! I was under no obligation to feature these products-all products mentioned were featured because I really enjoyed them and I hope you will too!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)

















