Hosting a Springtime Brunch

After a long winter, spring is the perfect time to host a brunch for friends, family or neighbors. Whether you are hosting just for fun, to celebrate a milestone birthday or life event or to host a big holiday, there are three easy ways to make your brunch easy to host and a hit with your guests.

• Buffet - While preparing food is arguably the most stressful part of hosting a big event at your home, there are many ways to help make it a little less intimidating. Consider making it a buffet where you prepare a variety of foods and have warming dishes set up to hold food. This allows your guests lots of choices, and it's easier to accommodate various dietary needs or food preferences. A simple way to do it is to prepare two hot breakfast items like casseroles or quiches, one with meat and one that is vegetarian as your main dish. Add in a fruit salad, buy some pastries Schaumburg, and create a couple of side dishes and you are good to go.
• Host Outside - If possible, plan to host your brunch outside. The springtime air, the blossoming flowers, and the earth coming back to life is enough to put everyone in a good mood. While weather can be poor with rain showers, host under a rented tent or have a back-up plan to move indoors if the weather just will not cooperate.
• Table Setting - Springtime table settings and décor should be bright and floral. Buy a pastel or bold table runner or tablecloth that has flowers within the pattern. Of course, fresh springtime flowers like carnations and roses should be on each tabletop as décor but also give guests an opportunity to create their own small flower arrangement as a fun activity and favor.

As you begin planning your springtime brunch do not forget to keep it simple yet colorful. By creating a beautiful buffet spread of food, utilizing the outdoors as your backdrop and setting a gorgeous table of flowers you will be the “host with the most” in no time.

Of course, with the current situation, your springtime brunch could end up being a summertime brunch - by then we'll all be happy to get outside and spend some time together! In the meantime, try hosting a weekend family brunch via Zoom the way my neighbor did the other day. Everyone fixes their own food (or orders delivery from a local restaurant), sets their own tables, and then just connects online for some good conversation.

Be Sure to Try These Foods Next Time You're in Texas

Texans are a proud bunch and will tell you that everything is better in Texas. It is well-known that they are passionate about their food, most notably their barbecue. Modern Texan food culture, however, is comprised of so much more than just slow-cooked meat slathered in a tasty tangy sauce. Texans don’t do things halfway; they go full throttle and put the time, effort, and love into whatever they make until it is perfect. This especially applies to their food.

Here are a few examples of Texas cuisine you’re sure to fall in love with the next time you visit the Lone Star State.

• The Perfect Steak - Texas is cattle country so, of course, they are really into great steaks.  When you think of a Texas steakhouse, you may be thinking of some dusty old roadhouse, the kind of run-down place where you might find great barbecue. And while that definitely has its place, a nice family restaurant Grapevine TX is where you'll find that good ribeye, filet, or  massive porterhouse you're looking for. A great steakhouse meal is sure to be one of your trip highlights.
• The Perfect Burger - Once again, it’s Texas, and they do love their meat. In fact, they claim to have invented the burger and to have perfected it. It all starts with lean ground beef, a high-quality bun, either cheddar or American cheese and your choice of toppings. The official Texas-style burger has red onion, pickles, lettuce, and tomato, with mustard on one bun and mayo on the other. (Yes! All burgers need mustard!) Some would argue to include green chilis as well, but either way, you’ll be trying to make it at home. 
• The Perfect Chili - Texans are very particular about their chili, and fights have ensued over the inclusion of beans in the recipe. Purists insist that Texas chili excludes beans, also known as a “bowl of red,” and that chili with beans is a Tex-Mex bowl of horrors. Try each and decide for yourself, they are both delicious.

Whether it’s a steak, a burger, or a bowl of chili, you’ll have plenty of fantastic options to choose from on your next visit to Texas.

Next Level Breakfast Recipes

I'm more of a yogurt and granola type, but when Jeffrey sent me this video I couldn't help but enjoy it. I think most of these would be a bit sweet for me, but I love the creativity. It does help that he's using Prairie Farms flavored milks.


Do you have any favorite cereal/milk mixtures?

Adding Quail to the Family Dinner Menu

In many parts of the world, quail is a common and enjoyable menu item. Quail can be purchased in markets, hunted, or raised at home with the right care. For those who are talented hunters and enjoy rising early, quail is extraordinarily common game. With the many different ways to prepare quail and their eggs, it is a wonderful and affordable staple protein just as chicken is.

Purchasing Quail in Markets
When searching for quail in stores, it is important to keep in mind that most marketed quail is farmed. Therefore, it will not taste quite the same as wild or free ranged quail. I personally have not seen quail in the grocery store, but then again, I have not looked for it. Our store has a wide range of meat options, so it is entirely possible that quail is available, at least part of the time. I will have to look next time I'm in the store.

Hunting Quail for the Table
Hunting for quail is a common sport throughout the world, as quail are a very common species and a day's hunt could feed the family for a few days. For those who prefer the flavor of wild-caught game, hunting is the best method to obtain fresh quail. Quail hunting in Alabama is a popular sport, so there are many hunting spots that offer an incredible amount of game. Hunting will provide the freshest meat, aside from raising the birds at home.

Raising Quail for Food at Home
Raising quail at home is the second best way to obtain fresh quail for meals. For those who have adequate room and are not in an urban setting (unless the laws allow for raising quail), quail can be fairly easy to hatch and raise at home. As long as they are housed properly with the right feed and adequate shelter, it will only be a short time before the family is able to enjoy the very first harvest. This is the most hands-on method and it will require the most work.

Quail is a great protein to add to your family's meal rotation. Variety is key to a healthy diet, so add some leafy greens and another vegetable option for a delicious, wholesome meal!

You Waste Some; You Use Some

Right after I posted saying that I rarely throw away any of the food I buy, I ended up having to throw away a whole bunch of limes.  AND half of one of my home-grown butternut squashes.

That's almost as bad as having someone come into my garden and steal one.  Only this time it was completely my fault.  I just didn't get around to using it and expected it to wait around as long as I needed it to. 

Oh, well, I got to use half of it in a wonderful Butternut and Potato Bake.  I really need to update that recipe.  I usually end up stirring the canned tomatoes into the browned hamburger and cooking that for a bit while I cut up potatoes and squash, and then I add it all at once.  That probably doesn't make a huge difference, but the other night we were working in the garage - Jeffrey cleaning the cars and me cleaning out the freezer and refrigerator - so it ended up being in the oven at 400° for about 2 hours.  And it was so good.  The longer it cooks, the better it is.

The asparagus was pretty well done, too.  No, it wasn't in there the whole 2 hours; I just tossed it in at the end.  Now that I'm thinking about it, I don't know why I didn't just toss it on top of the squash and potato dish, but I used a separate baking dish.  The asparagus was kind of an after thought.  It was one of those things that was in my fridge and needed to be used.  So I used it before it went bad.  (WIN!)

Unlike those limes.  All I had to do was throw them in the freezer.  In the bag with those other two limes that are already in there.  I kept meaning to, but I just didn't get around to it.  So, yes, even with the best of intentions, things still do go to waste.

Global Food Waste

I really hate wasting anything, so I find it very hard to believe when I read something like these numbers on global food waste.

Seriously?  45% of all fruit and vegetables is wasted? 35% of fish and seafood, 30% of cereals, and 20% of both dairy products and meat?  I know we don't waste or throw away anywhere close to that much of anything.  How about you and your household?

My main reason is that, if I spent good money on something, I had better get my money's worth.  Oh, occasionally something gets away from me, and I have to toss it, but most of the time I make sure I use what I have.  That means sometimes (often) what I make for dinner includes the things I have in the fridge that need to be used.  I don't always have a recipe in mind, but it's amazing the things you can come up with when you Google for a recipe including the ingredients you have on hand!  And, yes, we eat leftovers.

If I do find I just can't use something, I throw it in the freezer.  I'd rather do that than throw it away, and then I can use it later.

I never really thought about the environmental impact of food waste until I read through this information recently.  And, even though I really don't throw away that much food - because I'm cheap - I'm thinking I need to do even better.  The biggest thing, I think, is to start composting what food waste we do have.  You know, things like carrot and potato peels, egg shells, etc.  Those things that aren't edible.  Since I just started my new garden last year, it is definitely time to do some research on composting.

How about you?  What do you do to control and prevent food waste and the environmental impact?

Backpack Snacks: 5 budget friendly foods that will survive a backpack

Just in time for back-to-school we have this handy infographic featuring Backpack Snacks: 5 budget friendly foods that will survive a backpack and provide on-the-go nutrition.  Little bodies need frequent fuel ups, and these snacks provide convenience and nutrition.

The way Jason loves his Cheerios, I bet he'd be thrilled to have a cup or baggy of them in his backpack.  A little trail mix in my purse isn't a bad idea, either.

More information

Heart Healthy Recipes and Savings from Campbell Soup

This post is sponsored by Campbell Soup Company

The busier we all get the harder it becomes to eat right and keep our families healthy.  It's just easier to grab a fast food dinner while on the run or fix pre-packaged convenience foods.  That's OK once in a while, but studies have shown that eating home-cooked meals at least five days out of the week can have a big impact on your health.

Of course, that's not all there is to it.  I cook most of our meals, but I don't always think about whether a recipe is heart healthy, low in saturated fat or cholesterol, or any of the other health-related concerns I should probably be thinking about.  Usually I just fix whatever sounds good to me.  Thankfully I do like healthy food, and I'm not a big fan of fried foods or sweets, so we probably eat healthier than a lot of people.  There's always room for improvement, though, and I really want to feed my husband healthy meals because that is one thing I can do for him and his health.  I can't exercise for him - though now that we're into Daylight Saving Time, we have some extra daylight in the evenings so maybe I can get him back to walking - but I can make sure he eats right, at least most of the time.

Campbell’s Soup realizes that keeping our families healthy can be a challenge for all of us, so they've put together some heart-healthy tips and “American Heart Association Certified Recipes” as well as great coupons and special offers at addressyourheart.com.

Here are some of those hearth healthy recipes that caught my eye:

Slow-Cooked Chicken & Butternut Squash
(easy and healthy, don't you just love the slow cooker?)

Creamy Chicken & Vegetables over Spaghetti Squash
(I love spaghetti squash!)

Creamy Turkey & Vegetable Lasagna
(looks like comfort food to me!)

Pizza Primavera with Cauliflower Crust  (I have been wanting to try a cauliflower crust and look at those veggies!)

Pork Medallions with Spinach & Barley  (I'd use turkey since I don't eat pork, but I'm kind of obsessed with spinach and barley right now)

Don't those look yummy?  Just click on the picture to get any of the recipes.  There are quite a few more recipes available so be sure to check all of them out, and visit the Campbell's Kitchen Facebook page for even more.  Also be sure to grab some Campbell's money-saving coupons before you head to the store so you can fix dinner for less.

Related articles

• Staying Heart Healthy With Campbell's
• Campbell's Heart Healthy Recipes
• Campbell's Heart Healthy Recipes #sponsored

New Years Resolutions - There's an App for That!

It's that time of year - an new year, a new start, a new chance get the things right that you didn't get right last year.  According to an article I read in Parade Magazine, the 10 most common resolutions among Americans are:

1. Lose weight
2. Improve finances
3. Exercise
4. Get a new job
5. Eat healthier
6. Manage stress better
7. Stop smoking
8. Improve a relationship
9. Stop procrastinating
10. Set aside time for yourself

Are any of these on your list?  Are there any resolutions you made that didn't make the list?  I've never made any resolutions myself, but #9 is definitely something I could work on.  I also think we could all benefit from eating healthier, and I'd like to start buying and using more organic foods.

According to another one of those articles in Parade, the statistical success rate of New Years resolutions is 8%.  That doesn't sound very encouraging, does it?  Still, it's a bright shiny new year, and we'd all love to do better this year, wouldn't we?   Also remember that, even if you make a resolution and fail, you do not have to wait until the beginning of another year to try again.  Pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and try again.

Did you know there are apps you can put on your smart phone or tablet that can help you stick to your resolutions this year?  I mean, why not?  There's an app for everything else, why not apps to help us live better lives?  Isn't that what it's all about anyway?  If our technology isn't helping us, then we might as well not have it, right?  It has to be more than just games and Facebook. (though those are pretty fun)

Here are some apps that might just help you keep those resolutions this year or get started again:

• To help us eat healthier - Fooducate.   This one looks really cool.  It lets you scan barcodes in the grocery store to get nutrition information about the products you're thinking of buying and offers healthier alternatives. 
• To help me stop procrastinating, I'm sure there's a Productivity app that will help me.  The Parade article mentioned Finish, which is available on iTunes for the iPad Air.  It looks pretty handy because once you enter the stuff that you need to get done and when it needs to be done, the app reminds you until you actually get it done.  I wonder if you'd just go ahead and do whatever the thing is just to shut the app up?  Worth a try, anyway.
• If you want to stay in touch with your friends and family (besides on Facebook), Skype is great.  It lets you talk face to face with someone, even if they're hundreds of miles away.  For free!  It's one of the best ways to talk to our grandson Jason, now that we don't live in the same town anymore.  He'll talk to us longer when he can see us than when we're just using the phone.
  
• For managing and improving finances, there's Mint.  I've been using the Mint website for a while - and I use the term 'using' loosely because I really don't take advantage of all the features.  Mint can help you track spending, create budgets, and send alerts for upcoming bills or low balances.  It's a great way to see where your money is going and take charge of your finances.  I'm going to download it to my U.S. Cellular Samsung GS4 and see if I can keep better track of ours.

Those are just a few of the very helpful apps available to help us take control of our lives.  Whatever your resolutions or goals are this year, I bet there's an app for that!  Be sure to visit Google Play or iTunes and search for the apps that will help you.   If you've found some that have been very helpful in your life, be sure to share them.

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my participation in the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade as well as receiving a new phone.  My experiences with and opinions of U.S. Cellular are 100% mine.

Be Carton Smart this Holiday

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carton Smart for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

What if everyone made just one small smart decision every day?  How much of a difference do you think that would make?  Sure, one person's actions may not seem like much, but when everyone joins in, the impact can  be huge.

Tetra Pak® carton packages, designed for maximum efficiency and environmental friendliness, are one small way to live smarter and make that difference.  The cartons are made of 70% paper, a renewable resource, from selectively harvested, re-grown trees that are FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) and use 1/3 of the packaging compared to cans.  Cartons are space saving, easy to store and open, and the unique packaging process preserves the flavor and nutrients of food without the use of preservatives.  So, not only will you help the environment by putting less waste into landfills, when you Become Carton Smart you'll also be able to feed your family better quality food.

I received Tetra Pak® carton packages of  Pacific Foods Organic Jellied Cranberry Sauce, Pacific Foods Organic Pumpkin Puree, and Pacific Foods Organic Chicken Simply Stock - the perfect products for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday!

Cranberry sauce goes with turkey, the stock can be used to make the dressing, and I think I'll use the Pumpkin Puree to make a batch of these Pumpkin Oat Muffins.  What's great about these cartons is that they're reclosable, so I can use the 1 cup of pumpkin I need for the muffins and easily save the rest in the carton for later.  How convenient is that?



I also like that the cartons fit together nicely - meaning they're great for stocking the pantry.  I am definitely going to have to look for other products I can get in these cartons.

Be sure to Follow #CartonSmart on Pinterest to see lots of great small, smart choices that can add up to make a big difference, and if you have some ideas of your own, be sure to Tweet @CartonSmart to share them.

How will you be #CartonSmart this holiday?  Will you buy at least one of your ingredients in a carton?  Recycle all of the cans and jars you use?  Use real dishes so that you aren't throwing away a bunch of paper plates and plasticware?  I'd love to hear your plans.

Chick-fil-A #FreshMade Giveaway

Each day we have a choice, a choice to do the same old routine or do something unique and different, something better.

Chick-fil-A has created some new menu options that help you do just that - choices you can feel good about! They are introducing 3 new premium salads and an improved wrap, all under 430 calories and made with premium ingredients.

If you'd like to try the new salads - and who wouldn't, seriously watch this video - be sure to enter this giveaway.  The winner gets 2 Chick-fil-A Salad Coupons. All you have to do is take the Are You A “Starter”? Quiz and leave me a comment with your results.  Tweet with a link to this giveaway and include hashtag  #FreshMade for an additional entry.



The quotes and the pictures are pretty cool, too.

All entries must be received by Monday May 20, 2013 at 11:59pm Central.  Giveaway is open to U.S. residents.  Good luck!

• I am working with Chick-fil-A for this giveaway and will also be provided the opportunity to try their new salads.

Book Review: Bread & Wine

Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes by Shauna Niequist


About this book:

As a follow up to her two bestselling books, Bittersweet and Cold Tangerines, author and blogger Shauna Niequist returns with the perfect read for those who love food and value the community and connection of family and friends around the table. Bread and Wine is a collection of essays about family relationships, friendships, and the meals that bring us together. This mix of Anne Lamott and Barefoot Contessa is a funny, honest, and vulnerable spiritual memoir. Bread and Wine is a celebration of food shared, reminding readers of the joy found in a life around the table. It's about the ways God teaches and nourishes people as they nourish the people around them. It's about hunger, both physical and otherwise, and the connections between the two. With wonderful recipes included, from Bacon-Wrapped Dates to Mango Chicken Curry to Blueberry Crisp, readers will be able to recreate the comforting and satisfying meals that come to life in Bread and Wine.

I haven't read either of her previous books, but I was very eager to read this one when I was offered an advance reading copy by Zondervan.  We've often talked about how important it is in building relationships to share meals together, as well as tying the experience to the bread and wine that Jesus offered saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me" and "This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it."  Are we only supposed to remember occasionally, when we're in church, when we're taking the symbols in a ceremonial manner?  Or is it like Shauna says in this book - "And I believe that Jesus asked for us to remember him during the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine every time, every meal, every day - no matter where we are, who we are, what we've done."  Yes!

I really enjoyed the book.  The focus isn't really on the bread & wine, though that is an underlying theme.  Mostly it's about the importance of sharing meals together and the relationships that are built around the table.  Through good times and bad, the common theme is the food and the eating - together.  Shauna gives the reader a glimpse into her life, a life where she is learning to embrace her appetites, let go of her desire for perfection and just be fully present in the moment, and accept herself for who she is, and she invites the reader to "start where you are" and begin doing the same thing.

I could really relate to the need to let go of perfection.  I have a hard time letting people into my house (or my life) if I haven't had a chance to prepare, and I can make myself crazy doing all the cleaning and straightening before people are coming over - and they probably don't even notice anyway!  Sometimes the choice is, simply, be here - imperfect, messy, tired, whatever - or miss the moment, the conversation, the time around the table.  In that chapter, I marked the following line - "We have, each one of us, been entrusted with one life, made up of days and hours and minutes.  We're spending them according to our values, whether or not we admit it."  Is it more important to be perfect or to spend that time with the people who matter?

As I try to write this review, I keep looking back through the book.  I have little pink sticky notes sticking out everywhere, where I've marked passages that really struck me.  This one in particular:

"I want to cultivate a deep sense of gratitude, of groundedness, of enough, even while I'm longing for something more.  The longing and the gratitude, both.  I'm practicing believing that God knows more than I know, that he sees what I can't, that he's weaving a future I can't even imagine from where I sit this morning."

Shauna's attitude toward cooking and recipes pretty much sums up my feelings - "Recipes are how we learn all the rules, and cooking is knowing how to break them to suit our tastes or preferences.  Following a recipe is like playing scales, and cooking is jazz." - except that I don't really know much about music.  That being said, most of the recipes shared in this book seem a bit fussy to me, and I love to cook.  Yes, there are a couple that I will probably try - the Dark Chocolate Sea Salted Toffee, for one, OH, and the Roasted Broccoli - but most of them just sounded like too much work, and they called for ingredients that I don't usually have on hand.  Hopefully that won't discourage people from finding their own recipes and dishes to share, gathering people around their own tables, and building those important relationships.  Like she says, "Focus on making people comfortable, on creating a space protected from the rush and chaos of daily life, a space full of laughter and safety and soul."  Shauna has shared what works for her and her family here, and we all have to find out what works for us.  The point is to get started, open the door and start making our own memories around our own tables.

Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes is available on Amazon in both hardcover and Kindle editions.  For more information about Shauna Niequist, visit her webpage.

Thank you to Zondervan and Handlebar for giving me a review copy of this book.  I really enjoyed it.

Related articles

• On My Bookshelf: Bread & Wine (A Review)
• Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist
• This Book is Making Me Hungry: Some thoughts on Bread and Wine

40% of Food in the U.S. is Wasted

Wasted!  I'm not even going to get into a discussion about how much of the food in the U.S. is not worth eating in the first place.

Let's just assume that what your family buys at the grocery store is good food.  How much do you buy? How much of it do you eat?  How much goes into the garbage?

I was completely shocked when I heard on ABC News tonight that 40% of food in this country is wasted.  A study found that the average American family throws out 20 pounds of food every month.  They followed one family for just one week and found that they threw out 13 pounds of food in that one week.  How is that even possible?

It sounds like they shop on a weekly basis and spend around $300 each week - for a family of four.  So, they buy way too much stuff and then have to throw out the stuff that goes bad.  I can't imagine how it's even possible to spend that much on groceries every week.  No wonder they can't use it all.

My family may not always have gotten exactly what they wanted to eat, in fact I heard, "There's nothing to eat!" from my teenagers' mouths many times - even though there was always plenty of food in the house.  Sometimes you just eat what's available or you don't eat at all.  Believe me, they never starved.  And oftentimes it was junk food they wanted, which they didn't need anyway.

Oh, when I did go shopping, which was usually once every 2 or 3 weeks - not counting having Jeffrey stop on his way home for milk, eggs, or something very basic - I did buy them things they liked.  And I also bought good stuff - fruits and vegetables, meats, beans, pasta, rice, etc. - and then I used what I bought.  Sure, occasionally something gets lost in the back of the fridge or at the bottom of the crisper drawer and goes bad, and I have to throw it out, but that is a rare thing, not the norm.

The key, I think, is to keep track of what you have and fix meals based on what you have in your fridge (and in your pantry) - and not necessarily what your family just happens to feel like eating that day.  Don't just run to the store because you need to fix something for dinner.  First, look to see what you already have.  If something needs used in the next few days - example: I had some broccoli that needed to be used, so I made this Beef Noodle Bowl for dinner - then use it.  Find a recipe, steam the broccoli - something.  Here are a couple sites that allow you to enter the ingredients you have on hand to find recipes using those ingredients.

• Supercook
• Recipe Puppy
• Recipe Matcher

Enter you ingredients, find recipes, use what you have on hand.

And if you can't use it - freeze it.  Don't wait until it goes bad and it's too late.  Ripe bananas can be peeled, wrapped in plastic wrap, and put into zipper bags in the freezer.  They're perfect for smoothies, banana bread or muffins, or just to eat frozen on a hot summer day.  Grapes can be washed and spread on a cookie sheet to freeze and then placed in zipper bags once frozen.  Bell pepper can be chopped and spread on cookie sheets to freeze the same way.  The same goes for leftovers.  Many meals can be frozen for later, whether in individual servings or family-size servings.  They're great for those busy times when you don't really have time to cook - like convenience foods, but they're way better for you because you made them yourself. 

Are you throwing away more food than you want to?  Do you have some tips to help avoid food waste and save money on groceries?  It sounds like there are lots of American families who could use the help.  The family on ABC News could put $4000 back in their pocket instead of in the trash - which is more than I actually spend on groceries in a year.  I can't imagine spending that just to throw the stuff I'd buy into the trash.

Related articles

• Reducing Food Waste Key to Feeding Billions More Worldwide: Expert
• U.S. family trashes 20 lbs. of food/month

Grow Sprouts in a Glass Jar

I never had sprouts until I went to college, and I fell in love with them.  Then, after college and marriage, I occasionally bought alfalfa sprouts in the grocery store, but then I stopped because they were fairly expensive and not always good.  Then I mostly forgot about them until recently when a friend of mine mentioned that she had been growing her own sprouts, and she gave me some seeds to get started.

Since then I've been growing my own sprouts regularly.  It's easy.

You will need:

• A glass jar - a wide-mouth pint jar works great.
• Sprouting seeds of your choice - I use The Sprout House Organic Sprouting Seeds Salad Mix Broccoli, Clover, Radish, Alfalfa along with some lentils. 
• Cheesecloth or nylon to cover the top of the jar and a canning ring or rubber band to hold it in place.
• Water

Directions:

1. Place about a Tablespoon of sprouting seeds in jar, and put the cheesecloth or nylon over the mouth of the jar and secure it in place.
2. Cover seeds with water and allow to soak overnight, or 8-12 hours.
3. The next morning, pour water out and add more water.  Swirl seeds around in the water a bit to rinse them and then pour the water back out, draining well so that there is no excess water.
4. Let the jar sit on your kitchen counter, rinsing and draining them a couple times a day, until they have sprouted and begin to have small leaves.  You want to be sure they don't dry out, but you don't want them sitting in water either.

5. Once the sprouts have reached the point you like them - usually in 5 days or so, rinse them one more time and place them in a container and refrigerate.  I usually put a folded paper towel in the bottom of the container to absorb any excess water.

Enjoy!  and repeat the process as needed.   Sprouts are good on sandwiches or salads or just eaten by the handful with a sprinkling of sea salt.  So good, and good for you too!

It Looks Good Enough to Eat

I'm supposed to be helping a friend of mine update her website and organize it better.  So far I've taken pictures of some of her products, looked at a few templates we could possibly use, and done some research.

Some of that research involves looking at other similar sites to see how they're organized.  She sells uncured natural meats and Alaskan salmon, so I've been checking out this website where you can seafood order online, and I forgot about the organization and started looking at the pictures.  Do you see how good that smoked salmon looks in that picture?  I am going to have to figure out how to take better pictures of the products - pictures that people just can't resist.  The pictures on this site certainly have me wanting to add some of these things to my cart - the Smoked Salmon, Sockeye Salmon Maple BBQ Kebobs, and the Sockeye Salmon Burger with Ginger Dill to name just a few.

I'll have to keep looking at these pictures and hopefully find some online information about food design and photography.  Any suggestions for that?  I have a hard enough time getting decent pictures for my recipe blog.  Half the time my problem is that I don't think to take a picture until after we've eaten the food, so at least that problem is solved, since the whole point will be the pictures.  Maybe getting to eat the food afterwards would just be a bonus!

Now That's a Pastrami

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Wonder bread for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
 
Kids have been enjoying sandwiches made with Wonder bread for over 90 years.  This may be hard to believe, but I'm not one of those kids.  I've never had a sandwich on Wonder bread. We always had homemade bread when I was growing up.  My husband, on the other hand, must've had Wonder bread.  Did I ever tell you about the first time I made bread after we got married?  He ate a slice.  Then he said, "This is OK, but why can't we have real bread?"  And here I thought that what I just gave him was real bread!  I like crusts, too.
 
For many families Wonder bread is their real bread.  They love this soft and delicious bread, and now there are more than 20 varieties of Wonder products, something for everyone.
 
To be sure kids are getting the nutrition they need, Wonder  introduced new Smartwhite for Kids this summer.  With the same delicious flavor and soft texture kids have come to expect, Smartwhite

• is baked with NO high fructose corn syrup
• contains only 50 calories per slice - that's 100 calories per sandwich 
• is fortified with the fiber of 100% whole wheat bread
• contains the calcium of an 8-ounce glass of milk
• and is a good source of nine essential vitamins and minerals.

Add some great sandwich fillings, and you can pack a lot of nutrition into a little lunchbox.  I tried out The Sandwich Wonder-izer! and created a really yummy-looking sandwich using the new Smartwhite for Kids bread.  I layered (from the bottom up) spicy mustard, turkey Pastrami, dill pickle slices, sliced tomato, cucumber, provolone, alfalfa sprouts, avocado, spinach, and Ranch dressing between two slices of Smartwhite bread.  It looks pretty good to me.  What do you think?  I shared it on twitter and facebook, but I don't know if I got anyone drooling on their keyboards or not - besides me, of course.
 
Be sure to try the Sandwich Wonder-izer for yourself.  You can either start from scratch or from several pre-made sandwiches if you need inspiration.  Choose your bread, meats, cheeses, veggies, condiments, etc. Then check the nutritional value, save your creations, and share with friends - or head to the kitchen and create a masterpiece you can actually eat once you've been inspired.
 
Don't forget to share your creations with me.  I'd love to see what you come up with as well as hear your memories of Wonder bread in your lunchbox.  Be sure to Like Wonder bread on Facebook, too.
 

It's Football Season; Get to B-Dubs

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Buffalo Wild Wings for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
 
I'd never seen so many people so crazy about football until we moved to Wisconsin.  Here it seems that everything is about the Packers - even when it's not football season. When it is football season, pretty much everybody in the state is watching when there's a game on.

Except us.  We've learned it's a good time to go shopping. There are no crowds!  Of course, the football game is on in every store that sells televisions, and it's on the radio in the stores that don't.  So there's really no getting away from it.

And then there was the time we were out shopping and decided to go get something to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings.  The game was on, and the whole place was full.  Not too full that we couldn't get a table, but there were plenty of people in there enjoying a good meal and a good time while watching the game on the big screen televisions.  It actually turned out to be fun, and while I wasn't exactly cheering - or even understanding what was going on - I found myself watching the game too.

And of course the food was great.  I usually go for the wings (Love their wings!), and Jeffrey doesn't care too much for wings, so he always gets a burger.  They have good burgers.  The Buffalo Chicken Flatbread is really good, too.  I got that the time we were in there during the football game.

So, whether you LOVE football or just tolerate it, Buffalo Wild Wings is a great place to catch the game. If you don't really care about the game, you can still get some good food and enjoy hanging out with your family and friends.  If you love football, you won't miss a second of the game, because they have huge television screens on every wall and throughout the restaurant, so everyone has a good view, and nobody has to make all the game-day snacks!

Protect the football. Get to B-Dubs. There's something for everybody.

They're Farmin' and They Grow It

Loving this video!




Growing up in Central Illinois, surrounded by fields and farms, I feel like I knew some of these guys.  (Even though these particular guys are from Kansas)

Soft Baked Bars from @Quaker

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Quaker Oats for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've always been a fan of Quaker oatmeal and Quaker granola bars, and now I'm really looking forward to trying the new  Quaker Soft Baked Bar.  They come in two flavors, Banana Nut Bread and Cinnamon Pecan Bread.  Both sound really good, but I'm leaning toward the Cinnamon Pecan Bread.  It just plain sounds good!  I really love cinnamon in about anything - always put it in my oatmeal - and it's also really good for you.  These bars contain real fruit and nuts and are easy to grab when you're on the go.  Or, for a special treat, heat them in the microwave for a fresh-baked taste.
 
Because I'm home in the mornings, I have a lot of different things for breakfast.  I have time to cook some oatmeal or make an omelet if I want.  I can even enjoy my own fresh-baked muffins or breads if I want to take the time to make them.  However, the rest of my family is often running out of here in the mornings, oftentimes without eating anything for breakfast.  (Jeffrey does usually have something he eats at work) Having some of these Quaker Soft Baked Bars on hand for them to grab and take with them would be so handy and a great way to make sure they start their day with some wholesome food.  They'd be more likely to eat something if it's handy, easy to take with them, and tastes good.  Quaker says, "With flavors you'll love and nutrients to help fuel you, you'll be a morning person in one delicious bite."  I don't think even these will turn Beth into a morning person, but I would like to see her eat something in the mornings - something that's not junk.

These treats aren't just tasty, but are packed with:
• 140 calories
• 5g of Fiber
• 6g of Protein
• Excellent source of 5 B-Vitamins
so definitely not junk!
 
While I think these bars will make a great  breakfast snack, I think they'd also be handy and nutritious for any time of day.  I especially like having a granola bar or something like this that I can grab and take along when I go grocery shopping.  That way I have something to eat if/when I get hungry, something to give me the energy to finish my shopping - and you know what they say about shopping on an empty stomach!
 

I Got a Package from efoods Direct

I just got a package from efoods Direct.  They asked if I'd like to try their meals, and after reading the info, I was only too happy to try them.  Basically, what they offer are delicious and nutritious food in a convenient and easy-to-store package.  Dehydrated products are packaged as complete Quick-Fix meals.  Simply boil water, simmer and serve a healthy, delicious hot meal no matter where you are.

These meals would be great in all kinds of situations - stock the pantry and have them on hand for emergencies, take them camping, or I'm thinking they'd be great for a certain college student I know.  He has a hard time finding healthy food on campus, so I'm always looking for easy solutions - something he can fix in a dorm room without too much trouble.  These would be great.

I love that all the products carry the exclusive Nutriversal Seal of Promise:

• Quick Fix: We promise our meals are quick and easy—just add water to rehydrate the food! Our true Quick-Fix line provides packets of complete meals that can be served in less than 20 minutes; Reserve Paks (1-year supply) products are individual ingredients you can use with your own recipes.

• Extended Shelf Life: We promise our products are storable for up to 25 years.

• Daily Use: We promise that all of our products can be served daily.

They want their products to taste great, be universally appealing, and provide superior nutrition.  Their foods are a good source of fiber, contain no trans-fat or hydrogenated oils, contain no MSG, contain no genetically modified ingredients, contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, and they even offer gluten-free options.  They're soy-free, irradiation-free, and use oxygen-free packaging.  And they're made in the US!   There is quite a list of positives here - I did not have time to list them all, so be sure to check them out for yourself.

I love that they are committed to providing healthy, easy to prepare foods that can be stored for an extended period of time.  I got the Tortilla Soup, Cheesy Chicken Rice Casserole, and Creamy Potato Soup to try.  I am really excited to try them to see if they really do taste as good as they say they do.

If these products sound like something you'd be interested in, be sure to check out efoods Direct.  They've got some specials going right now- Save 50% on a 7-day supply by entering code FOOD50 or save 40% on a 5-day supply with code FOOD40.

I'll be posting a review once I've had a chance to try them - or my son just came home and claimed them.  He's leaving Monday for his summer internship, and he's going to need to eat...  He promised to write the reviews, so that will be fun.  I told you they'd be perfect for a college student, even in summer!  He obviously doesn't have time to actually cook.