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Welcome Tyson Breakfast Bread Bowls to Our Table!

March 18, 2012 By 8 Comments

Because my husband and I work outside of the home full time, the weekend is spent running errands we just couldn’t get to during the week.  While we grocery shop just about every weekend, we reserve one Saturday a month for a Sam’s Club trip.  Our local Sam’s is only about 10 minutes from our home and is the one shopping trip that the kids look forward to joining us.  This weekend, I had one thing on my Sam’s Club list….Tyson Breakfast Bread Bowls.

Walking through the aisles, it is very hard to stay focused.  Sam’s Club has so many great deals on things we use every day plus a ton of fun things to look at (and taste!), too.  We made our way to the frozen foods section and were delighted to see that the breakfast area was clearly marked.  With a store so massive, I am amazed that it is so easy to navigate.  The breakfast selection was pretty extensive, but we zeroed in on the Tyson Sausage Breakfast Bread Bowls.  Twelve pieces come in a package which will last us quite a while and only cost $9.95 at Sam’s.  I was hoping to find the bacon variety, but our local store did not carry them.  We settled on trying the sausage bread bowls and attempted to head for the check out.  We didn’t have much luck doing that as we purchased quite a few other items as well (including Saturday night’s dinner!).

Sunday mornings are generally lazy for us.  We snuggle with the kids in bed while watching cartoons before heading to the kitchen for breakfast in the late morning.  On the weekends, we like to serve a hot and filling breakfast.  My daughters were eager to try the new #TysonBreakfast that we had purchased the day before.  They didn’t have to wait long because the directions said to microwave for only 50 seconds.  We ended up microwaving the two pieces for 2 minutes to get them heated throughout, but it was so much easier than making a big breakfast.

The bread bowls come two to a package but to my surprise, I could only eat one.  The servings are bigger than I expected and filled me up quick.  Both of my daughters ate one piece as well…and didn’t leave a crumb behind.  That’s a stellar review.  The Tyson Breakfast Bread Bowls will definitely find their way into my basket again.  Check out my entire shopping adventure in my Google + story and don’t forget to follow the latest news on Tyson’s Facebook and Twitter!

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  All opinions are my own. #CBias
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Fat Girl Food: Cookbook Review

March 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I love to cook.  Love.  I am so thankful that my Granny spent countless hours teaching me how because although my mother is a great cook, she doesn’t love it like my Granny did and I do today.  Because of my love for cooking, I have dozens and dozens of cookbooks.  I pore over them like bestsellers and mark countless recipes to try out.  Recently,  I was introduced to a gem of a cookbook called Fat Girl Food.

Fat Girl Food is written by Jena Hutchinson, AKA “The Fat Girl.”  Jena does an awesome job of showing tons of real-life photos in her recipes, along with kitchen tips, cooking tips, and downright good humor to guide you along the way.  I have been cooking from the age of standing on a chair to reach the counter all the way to now at age 37 (ouch) and even I learned a few things from Jena!  These recipes are NOT health food…..but come on…..isn’t it time you treated yourself every so often to something that isn’t?  It’s not that these recipes are categorically unhealthy….they are just all “real” food.  No skimping on taste in this book.

YUM!

After much debate, I decided to test out Jena’s Chicken Bow Tie Pasta.  Which ironically, Jena says was originally a Weight Watchers Recipe…..until she put the “Fat Girl” touch on it to make it tastier!

What you need:

2 tbsp butter

1 medium sweet onion, diced

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces (I used chicken breasts because thigh meat makes me gag)

2 cups broccoli florets

4 cups of bow-tie pasta (farfalle), cooked

1/3 cup skim ricotta cheese

1/2 cup shredded skim mozzarella cheese

1/4 tsp dried basil

1/4 cup grated parmesan

How to make it:

Over medium heat, sweat the onion and butter for 2-3 minutes.  This is different from sauteing.  This means heat over medium heat, a pinch of kosher salt, and an occasional stir.  Add the chicken to the onion and fry until cooked through.  Steam the broccoli until tender, add to chicken along with cheeses, pasta, and basil.  Remove from heat and stir until cheese is melted and incorporated.  YUM!

This made plenty enough to feed my family of 4 and we had leftovers for another night.  My kids LOVED it and so did my husband!  I have already marked tons of recipes to try.   How does Buttered Pecan Cake sound?  Cowboy Mashed Potatoes?  Stuffed Meatloaf?  Waffle French Toast?  I better break out the treadmill….  ;)  Check out Fat Girl Food and feed your family!  The spiral bound lay flat book can be purchased for $24.95 and the digital version is only $4.95.  Remember….food is love!

 This post is the opinion of Jennifer of the Experimental Mommy.  While a sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% honest.
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New S’more and Strawberry Sundae JELL-O Pudding Snacks

March 4, 2012 By 2 Comments

If your kids are anything like mine, as soon as they return home from school, they throw open the fridge in search of a snack.  They are famished!  I try to have a variety of healthy snacks that won’t ruin dinner from which to choose.  JELL-O Pudding Snacks have long been a staple in our home, so I was thrilled to learn about two new flavors, S’mores and Strawberry Sundae.

“S’more and Strawberry Sundae JELL-O Pudding Snacks feature dual layers and textures that combine to form exciting flavors that will delight both moms and kids. Plus you can feel good about including them in the lunchbox as they are made with real milk and no artificial sweeteners.”

My girls were thrilled to get their hands on a new snack!  As I predicted, they both chose to try the S’mores variety first.  When we opened the top, it really did smell like a s’more (I’m thinking it was the graham cracker flavor that I picked up first).  The marshmallow sits on the top, so it is hard not to eat it first.  My youngest took this route and dove into the graham cracker flavored marshmallow creme first while saving the chocolate pudding for last.  My oldest, the lover of chocolate, plunged to the bottom to get some of the chocolate pudding with her creme layer.  Both pudding snacks were gone in a matter of minutes.  Of course, I had to try it, too!  I love that the two layers are different in texture which really makes it feel like a more substantial snack (I only wish there were little pieces of actual graham cracker).

While the chocolate s’more variety was our favorite, the Strawberry Sundae was delicious as well.  The strawberry topping made you feel like you were indulging in an old time strawberry sundae!  Check out all of the JELL-O pudding snacks and find which best suits your taste!

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% honest.
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Ready to Shake It Up with Dancewear by Ivivva Athletica

February 27, 2012 By 3 Comments

Here’s a little tidbit that you may not know about me:  I am a dancer.  From the time I was 2 years old, I attended classes and performed my heart out.  Eventually, I became an Instructor, Choreographer and Competitive Coach.  Dance has always been a huge part of my life and literally identifies me.  This year, I reluctantly hung up my dance shoes so I could pass the reigns on to my two daughters.  It has been a pleasure watching them fall in love with dance like I did so many years ago.

As a dancer myself, I could not wait to buy my girls their very first leotards and ballet shoes.  But I will admit, I do not like the cutesy leotards and attached pink skirts adorned with ribbons and flowers.  I had a tough time finding my girls something more fashion forward and age appropriate for the dance floor.

Both of my daughters are huge fans of Disney Channel’s Shake it Up starring Bella Thorne and Zendaya, so I was thrilled to learn that they partnered with ivivva athletica to launch a dancewear line for girls.  “Shake It Up and its main characters served as the perfect inspiration for our new clothing line,” said Jennie Lam, lead designer for ivivva athletica. “So many girls dream of becoming professional dancers and are inspired by Cece and Rocky. We are so excited to have a line of dancewear that incorporates their passion for dance and the vibrancy of their personalities. The ‘Shake It Up’ line strikes the right balance between functionality and spirit and meets the needs and desires of girls who want to dance and move in style.” After flipping through the lookbook and watching the online fashion show, I was so excited for my daughters to see the products.

With adorable tanks, camis, capris and skirts in fun prints, it was hard to choose which to try first.  My oldest settled on a blue heart racerback tank with a fun patterned capri length pant.  My youngest opted for a pink cami and skirt (go figure).

When the items arrived, I was impressed with the quality of the fabric and superb construction (each bottom even includes a little pocket for money or a key).  The items ran true to size and have not shrunk in the wash.  My daughters could not wait to show their classmates the Shake It Up collection and have worn it to every class since then!

The Shake It Up line is currently available online at http://www.ivivva.com.  New Shake it Up inspired dancewear will also be created by ivivva for Spring 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, and Winter 2012.

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While samples were received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.
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Shake Up Breakfast with KRAFT Milkbite Milk & Granola Bars

February 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

During the week, our morning routine can get crazy.  Packing school lunches, dressing the kids, brushing hair, tying shoes, and finishing homework can leave little time for breakfast.  Of course, I want to make sure my girls are well fed before leaving for a full day of school so it is always great to have healthy options ready to go.

I was excited to learn that KRAFT has recently unveiled their new Milkbite Milk and Granola Bar.  This isn’t your ordinary breakfast bar!  Milkbite bars are made with real milk which provides the same calcium as an 8 oz glass of milk (great for kids who are reluctant to drink a glass of milk).  Because they contain real milk, you will have to look in the dairy aisle for this tasty bar.

As part of the Milkbite launch, my family and I were challenged to put the Milkbite to the test against the granola bar we normally purchase.  Our grocery list always contains two granola bars: Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chunk and the Nature Valley Dark Chocolate and Oats.  Before school, I switched the normal granola for the Milkbite Milk and Granola bars.  While the Strawberry bar was turned down, both of my girls loved the Milkbite Chocolate bar (and I loved it, too)!  The bar tastes very fresh unlike some granola bars I have tried.  In the days since the test, my daughters have repeatedly requested the “granola with milk” bar.  We have a winner!

The KRAFT Milkbite Milk and Granola bars can be purchased in Strawberry, Chocolate, Oatmeal Raisin, Mixed Berry and Peanut Butter varieties.  Don’t miss any special news or updates by following Milkbite on Twitter and Facebook!

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.
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Don’t Wait, Get DiGiorno!

February 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

How many times has your family been hungry and decided at the last minute to order pizza?  And then you wait….and wait….and wait some more.  By the time the pizza arrives, everyone is grouchy, tired and starving.  Sound familiar?

I hate to admit that this has happened in my home on more than one occasion.  Most of the time, it revolves around some sort of holiday or festivity like Halloween, Mardi Gras or Superbowl Sunday.  Instead of gambling on the pizza this year, we decided to get DiGiorno for our annual family get together during the Superbowl.  While our beloved New Orleans Saints were not in the game, we still needed to eat!
DIGIORNO 300x250 BannerI headed to Walmart to get supplies for our party and was amazed at the varieties of DiGiorno available for purchase.  I had no idea that DiGiorno offered more than just pizza!  I purchased 3 of the cheese pizzas (the kids’ favorite) which came with breadsticks and dipping sauce for $5.95!  For the adults, I got the thin crust pepperoni and some supreme rising crust pizza.  And because this is New Orleans, we topped off this SuperBowl party with some King Cake.

To be honest, I was skeptical about frozen pizza for a party.  My kids almost never like frozen pizza, but I had heard good things about DiGoirno so we gave it a go.  As it cooked, the aroma filled the house!  To my surprise, the kids devoured the cheese pizzas.  The breadsticks with marinara dipping sauce was my favorite and I would definitely buy them again.  The adults loved the rising crust pizza which actually tasted like takeout!

For your next party, consider stocking up on DiGiorno Pizza and save yourself the stress (and money) of traditional delivery.  Head to Walmart and look for the DiGiorno Guide to Greatness for a Winning Line Up and great savings, too!

This post is the opinion of Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a sample product and compensation was provided to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.
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Celebrate the “Year of the Dragon” with P.F. Changs

February 1, 2012 By 1 Comment

In all honesty, the year 2012 has not been kind.  I am more than happy to start over and celebrate the Chinese New Year, which began January 23rd.  Much like my traditional New Year’s Eve celebration, the Chinese New Year begins with a reunion meal including family and friends.  Along with celebrating prosperity, peace, happiness and longevity, family and friends traditionally give red envelopes filled with gifts which symbolize good luck in the coming year (I could certainly use some good luck these days!).

From now through February 6th, you can celebrate the Chinese New Year at P.F. Chang’s China Bistro!  At the close of the meal, you will be given a red envelope with a special gift inside.  But, don’t open it!  Bring it back at your next visit and your server will open it to reveal meal discounts or even a free dessert.

If you are not up for a night on the town, you can enjoy the yumminess of P.F. Chang’s in the comfort of your own home!  The P.F. Chang’s Home Menu offers a wide variety of noodle entrees including Pepper Steak with Chow Fun Noodles, Grilled Chicken Teriyaki with Lo Mein Noodles, Garlic Chicken with Dan Dan Noodles, and Firecracker Shrimp with Yakisoba Noodles.  Tonight, we tried the Firecracker Shrimp and the Grilled Chicken Teriyaki.

The meals are very easy to prepare.  Simply open the bag and place the contents in a skillet. Heat for 10 minutes while stirring or until sauce thickens.  Immediately, the delicious smell filled our home.  In just under 15 minutes, my family and I were gathered around the table eating.  Even my two daughters loved the noodles!  It is important to realize that each bag serves only two, so we prepared two bags for our family of four and did not have any leftovers.

So if you choose to dine in or out, celebrate the Chinese New Year with P.F. Chang’s!  Don’t miss any news or special deals by “liking” P.F. Chang’s on Facebook!

The post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a sample and gift card was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.
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Spread the Love with Minted.com Valentine’s Day Cards

January 26, 2012 By 1 Comment

In an effort to be ahead of the game, I was strolling down the Valentine’s aisle at my local store.  Looking over the selection of candies and cards was fun but everything was just….typical.  There were your average cards featuring today’s pop stars, Disney characters, and cute baby animals, but I really wanted something more personal for my daughters.

Recently, I had the opportunity to try out the selection of kids Valentine’s Day cards at Minted.com.  We have been honored to try Minted’s Holiday cards in the past and were very pleased with the results, so we have high hopes for this Season, too.  When I first opened the classroom Valentine’s Day card selection, I immediately feel in love!  The cards are bright, cheerful, personable and above all, UNIQUE.   You can select to personalize the cards with your child’s name, photo, or message which really makes the card special.

My daughter and I selected to try the Work of Art Classroom Valentines.  This card allows me to add a picture of my daughter and leaves plenty of room for my three year old to draw a special picture for her friends.  She absolutely LOVES the color and draw so this card definitely shows her personality.  I have placed my order (I got 25 cards for $21!) and am waiting for the shipment, but the proof is absolutely adorable, don’t you think?

If you are looking for unique personalized classroom Valentine’s Day cards, look no further.  Get your order in at Minted.com no later than February 7th to ensure Valentine’s Day delivery!

This post is the opinion of Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a product sample was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.
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Pecan Pork Tenderloin with KRAFT Fresh Take {Recipe}

January 25, 2012 By 2 Comments

A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to visit the KRAFT kitchens as part of the BlogEats Blogger Conference.  One of the products we learned about, Fresh Take, was top secret…until NOW!  This January, KRAFT Fresh Take will make it’s way to your local grocery store and you do NOT want to miss it!

As a busy Mom, I tend to get stuck in the same meal plan week after week (the kids even know to look for Red Beans and Rice on Mondays).  So, I was excited to have KRAFT show me a Fresh Take on dinner.  The mix can be found in the refrigerated dairy section of your grocery store because it consists of one resealable plastic pouch separated into two compartmentalized sections (seasoned breadcrumbs on one side, blend of natural cheese on the other).

I had the opportunity to try the Italian Parmesan variety with my family tonight.  Before starting, you simply open the pouch and mix the breadcrumbs and cheese.  The pouch serves as the mixing bowl….no extra dishes to clean up!  Then you are ready to coat chicken, pork, fish or beef and bake.  Under five minutes of prep time! After baking for about 25 minutes, my Italian Parmesan chicken was ready which I decided to serve over pasta.  I have to say, I was pretty impressed with myself!  The chicken was crunchy, delicious and perfectly seasoned!  In fact, BOTH of my girls asked for seconds…that’s a first!

The KRAFT Fresh Take meal kit come in six varieties: Southwest Three Cheese, Italian Parmesan (delicious!), Rosemary & Roasted Garlic, Cheddar Jack & Bacon, Chili Lime & Panko and Savory Four Cheese.  The suggested retail price is $2.99.

Need some inspiration before you try the new KRAFT Fresh Take?  Check out the recipe below:

Pecan Pork Tenderloin

Print recipe
Pecan Pork Tenderloin
Serves: 8
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Allergy: Tree Nuts
Meal type: Main Dish
Region: Worldwide
Website: Kraft Recipes

Ingredients

  • 1 packet fresh take rosemary & roasted garlic recipe cheese breadcrumb mix ((pre-mixed))
  • 1/2 cup planters pecans ((finely chopped))
  • 2lb pork tenderloin ((trimmed))
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil

Directions

Step 1 HEAT oven to 400°F.
Step 2 COMBINE cheese mixture and nuts. Brush meat with oil; coat evenly with nut mixture.
Step 3 PLACE tenderloins, side-by-side, in foil-lined 13x9-inch pan.
Step 4 BAKE 25 to 30 min. or until done (145ºF). Let stand 3 min. before slicing.
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This post is the opinion of Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While I received product in order to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% mine.

 

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Fingerprint Play Educational Apps for Kids

January 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

About a year ago, I was so excited to purchase my first iPad.  I think I got to play with it for all of ten minutes until my kids took over.  Now, I am lucky if I get to touch it on a daily basis!  Positive side?  There are some incredible apps for kids and I am happy to share a brand new series with you, Fingerprint Play.

Aimed at children ages 3-8, Fingerprint Play introduced the first ever mobile social learning and play network for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.  The first five apps released enable parents to communicate with their kids via the Mom Comm feature and see actual game play snapshots to keep an eye on your child’s progress.

The five apps include In Big Kid Life Fire Fighter, Big Kid Life Vet, Big Kid Life Fairy Princess, Play Maker, and DoReMi, 1-2-3.  My girls got to try out the Big Kid Life Fairy and Play Maker recently and I am happy to report that they loved them both!

  • Big Kid Life Fairy Princess- OK, anything with the word “princess” in it is bound to be a hit with my girls, but I was happy to see that BOTH of my daughters were able to enjoy the app at their own level.  Kids ages 4-7 develop reading comprehension skills as they play through 15 magical adventures, creating their very own Fairy Princess story.  The easy level required minimal dexterity and asked general comprehension questions which were perfect for my almost 4 year old.  The higher levels require a little more skill and was great for my 1st grader who takes comprehension tests regularly.  I love that the kids can send me a note to tell me about their progress, and I automatically was notified via email when my kids “leveled up” in the game.
  • Fingerprint Play Maker- Believe it or not, the girls liked this app MORE than the princess one!  Targeted for kids ages 4-8, this game focuses on math and spelling skills. The girls loved designing their character and recording their own personal messaged.  The higher levels involved addition skills which makes for great drills for my first grader, while the lower level required recognition of shapes perfect for my preschooler.

The Fingerprint games can be found for download in the Apple App Store for $2.99.  For a limited time, the apps are FREE!   Want to learn more?  Check out the video tutorial below:

This post is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a differing opinion of the product.  While a sample product was received to facilitate this review, all opinions remain 100% my own.
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