Family * Travel * Food

Low-Carb Italian Zucchini Boats

If you are like me, you probably have about 50 links on Facebook you saved of recipe or exercise videos that caught your eye. You tell yourself you will try that amazing ab and butt workout or will bake that triple chocolate ganache brownie cake. Am I right? Of course I am! I think Facebook sends me bi-weekly reminders that tell me I have saved links to look at. 

Recently I saw a recipe floating around Facebook for Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats and it really caught my attention. This time it was only saved for one week instead of 6 months. Today was finally the day I would try it. I followed the recipe for the most part, but tweaked it to my taste. First, here is the original recipe from Valerie's Kitchen. 


I omitted the extra flesh that was scraped out of the zucchini as well as the panko bread crumbs at the end. Also, I used a 4-cheese pasta sauce instead of marinara like the recipe stated. I put my own favorite seasonings including some extra hot pepper and let me tell you, this one is a winner! It was so full of flavor and good texture. I like the fact that you top it with the cheeses at the end so that it doesn't get too gooey or lose it's cheesiness (if that makes sense).



My husband does not like zucchini at all. He will tolerate trying one or two slices in a stir-fry, but still never actually liked it. He is currently practicing a lower carb lifestyle and I begged him to try it. He started with half of one "boat" and soon went back to the kitchen for the other half. He was so shocked that he really liked it. I was super shocked myself! I think it was because the zucchini was still pretty firm that he enjoyed it. If it was squooshy, he would not touch it. 

I did notice that if you reheat any of the leftovers that they become a whole lot softer. I think I will bake for 5-8 minutes less next time. One of my blog friends mentioned that her mother makes these with eggplant. I will definitely have to try that in the future. If you are looking for a delicious dinner idea (especially if you are doing LCHF), you must try this one!

Thanks for stopping by đź’“
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The Fresh Market’s grab-and-go “Little Big Meal” program for June 2017

The Fresh Market makes dining at home delicious and affordable with inspiring meal solutions each week.

WHAT/WHEN: The Fresh Market is taking the guesswork out of preparing a deliciously different meal each week with its “Little Big Meal” program.  Available at all of the grocer’s 175 stores nationwide, the grab-and-go meals offer satisfying solutions to the perennial “What’s for dinner?” question.  Guests may simply stop by the “Little Big Meal” display every day of the week to choose from a variety of fresh ingredient options to help make every day eating nothing short of extraordinary.

Each “Little Big Meal” recipe is tastefully curated with the finest quality, hand-picked ingredients of the season and offers a quick and easy wholesome meal for four – available throughout the month for $25 or less!  Guests can visit The Fresh Market any day of the week in June to pick up the following simple and delicious meals:


May 31-June 6 – Roasted Chicken Roll Ups ($20)
The Fresh Market’s Roasted Chicken Roll Ups with Vegetables are available in four flavor-packed combinations –parmesan, portabella, venezia and cordon bleu. The meal also comes with a roasting kit including farm-fresh broccoli, red potatoes, cauliflower, zucchini and thyme. To round out the delectable dinner, choose between pesto or honey-lemon bowtie salad and a variety of freshly baked, eight-count cookies from the bakery for dessert.

June 7-13 – Summer Pasta ($25)
Choose between the finest quality of sirloin steak, chicken strips, shrimp or portabella mushroom caps for The Fresh Market’s Summer Pasta Little Big Meal. Round out the recipe with a primavera vegetable kit and a choice between four varieties of Garofalo noodles. Top off the seasonal pasta with Brianna’s asiago Caesar, buttermilk ranch, Dijon honey mustard, ginger mandarin or poppy seed dressing. The meal also includes crusty Italiano bread and a choice between 12 flavors of Graeters ice cream.


June 14-20 – Chicken on the Grill ($20)
Fire up the grill for The Fresh Market’s Chicken on the Grill Little Big Meal! Choose between all-natural marinated chicken cutlets with teriyaki, barbeque or Anything Goes sauce to cook alongside The Fresh Market’s hand-picked vegetable grilling kit. Round out the meal with Lundberg’s organic Spanish rice or basil bell pepper, rosemary or Spanish style quinoa and rice mix. As a sweet treat, choose between lemon, fudge or cream cheese brownie bars.

June 21-27 – Kabobs ($25)
Select from The Fresh Market’s hand-picked kabob ingredients to cook up barbeque or teriyaki pork or chicken skewers accompanied by seasonal vegetable or tropical fruit skewers. The meal also comes with pita pocket bread, a Mediterranean pasta salad and a choice between five Yasso Greek yogurt bars. Perfect for any porch-side night, The Fresh Market’s Little Big Meal Kabobs are bursting with flavor – without the stress or mess!  

WHERE: The Fresh Market’s 175 store locations nationwide

For local store information, please visit thefreshmarket.com/your-market/store-locator.

MORE INFO: For more information on the “Little Big Meals” program, ingredients and recipe ideas, please visit thefreshmarket.com/specials/little-big-meal and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
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$20 Little Big Meals From The Fresh Market

Cook up convenience with The Fresh Market’s grab-and-go “Little Big Meal” program. The specialty grocer makes dining at home delicious and affordable with inspiring meal solutions each week.

The Fresh Market is a specialty grocer focused on providing fresh, delicious food with friendly service in a warm and inviting atmosphere. From seasonally fresh produce to exceptional quality meat and seafood, signature baked goods and thousands of organic options; The Fresh Market is dedicated to offering guests the most delicious ingredients and inspiring meal solutions.

WHAT/WHEN: The Fresh Market is taking the guesswork out of preparing a deliciously different meal each week with its “Little Big Meal” program.  Available at all of the grocer’s 174 stores nationwide, the grab-and-go meals offer satisfying solutions to the perennial “What’s for dinner?” question.  Guests may simply stop by the “Little Big Meal” display every day of the week to choose from a variety of fresh ingredient options to help make every day eating nothing short of extraordinary.

Each “Little Big Meal” recipe is tastefully curated with the finest quality, hand-picked ingredients of the season and offers a quick and easy wholesome meal for four – available throughout the month for $20 or less!  Guests can visit The Fresh Market any day of the week in May to pick up the below simple and delicious meals:


Now through May 9 – Fajitas ($20)
Add some sizzle to dinner time with The Fresh Market’s Fajita Little Big Meal! Choose from fresh, seasonal ingredients to tastefully master steak or veggie fajitas. Also included in the meal, guests can choose from a side of refried, Cuban or chipotle beans! For an extra twist on this foodie favorite, The Fresh Market suggests whipping up its avocado crema recipe to dollop on top (not included in the Little Big Meal; recipe available at thefreshmarket.com).


May 10-16 – Salads ($20)
Toss the traditional salad recipe out the window, and explore the fresh and delicious Little Big Meal Salads from The Fresh Market! Choose from premium ingredients to make sirloin steak salad with blue cheese and balsamic vinaigrette; shrimp and feta salad with mango coconut dressing or grilled chicken and vegetable salad with parmesan and Meyer lemon poppy seed dressing. Guests will also receive a side of sourdough rolls to top off the meal!


May 17-23 – Grilling Meal ($20)
It’s time to fire up the grill! The Fresh Market’s Grilling Little Big Meal will help guests gear up their palates for the summer season ahead with hand-picked, fresh ingredients to grill pork and chicken skewers and vegetables. To sweeten up the deal, guests can also choose between a cherry, apple, peach or blueberry pie for dessert.


May 24-30 – Burgers ($20)
The Fresh Market’s Burger Little Big Meal is packed with the fresh ingredients necessary to craft four, juicy patties on gourmet brioche buns! Choose from high-quality ingredients to make a classic burger, or a portabella burger with roasted red peppers and pesto mayo. Complete the meal with crisp corn and either macaroni or potato salad – all included for only $20!
                             
WHERE: The Fresh Market’s 174 store locations nationwide

For local store information, please visit thefreshmarket.com/your-market/store-locator.

MORE INFO: For more information on the “Little Big Meals” program, ingredients and recipe ideas, please visit thefreshmarket.com/specials/little-big-meal and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
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From My Kitchen- Caribbean Style Roasted Chicken Recipe

I have been getting so many nagging requests lately about posting my recipes on the blog from friends. I promised to do better this year and will be sharing more of my family favorite recipes and tips. I cooked a whole roasted chicken over the weekend and it was the best I've ever made. I didn't know I would end up sharing the recipe, so I have no step-by-step photos to share-- just the delicious end result. This chicken was full of Caribbean flavor and super juicy and tender.


Ingredients:

1 whole chicken, 5-8 pounds
one handful each of fresh cilantro and Italian parsley
One large green onion
3 cloves of fresh garlic
small piece of hot pepper like habanero or scotch bonnet (optional and highly recommended)
dried seasonings- here are my faves
*1/2 cup Mojo marinade

Helpful items: A large/wide bowl or glass dishware for marinating, a large baking sheet, parchment paper, aluminum foil

What to do:

Start with splitting your whole chicken down the back to remove backbone and excess fat. I prefer this method to get more even cooking and browning. Wash chicken with lime or lemon and pat dry with paper towels.  You will have to apply some pressure to get the breast to flatten a bit. Do not remove skin! Sprinkle chicken on both sides with your dried seasonings to your taste. In a blender or vegetable chopper, grind garlic, herbs, green onion and hot pepper with a small amount of water just enough to make a puree. Pour herb puree and mojo marinade all over, and leave chicken in the fridge for 2 hours or even overnight. Preheat oven at 385 degrees. Place chicken breast side up on pan lined with foil and parchment paper. Bake for around one hour depending on your oven. I use the convection setting on my oven for extra crispiness and deeper browning. If your wings start browning too quickly, you can wrap them loosely with foil and remove in the last 10 minutes of cooking. Let your chicken rest at least 15 minutes before cutting/carving.


Serve with your favorite side dishes. I recommend my favorite Guyanese cook-up rice to make this a real authentic Caribbean meal. My family raves over this chicken and an 8 pound bird was devoured in a couple days with no waste! Don't forget to Pin this recipe for later! Enjoy and thanks for stopping by.


*This post contains affiliate links. I posted the products in case you can't find them locally.  
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Bring Out Your Inner Foodie With Home Chef

Have you noticed that meal subscriptions are on the rise? With back-to-school season in full swing, many parents are feeling the sting of being time-crunched. There are school functions, sports, and other extracurricular activities. Factor those things in with the commute to and from work/school, homework, and household duties and you have families who are beyond busy. Shopping for food can be a big chore for many. This is where Home Chef meal delivery service comes in to save the day.

Home Chef offers meals to suit everyone whether you are a big family, college student, or empty-nesters. You can tailor your tastes and family size which helps to have the correct portions and avoids food waste. When you go to the Home Chef site you will be directed to put in your email address and zip code. You are then able to put in payment information and set up your Taste Profile. You can specify which foods you want to avoid (great if you are vegetarian or have food allergies) and if you have special dietary needs like low-carb or low-calorie. Once you have your order in place, you will receive an email with a delivery confirmation date.

Your meal kits will come packed very well in ice packs and sealed properly to avoid any leakage or possible cross-contamination. You can tell a lot of care goes into packing orders.

Each meal comes complete with recipe and instruction card along with all of the ingredients that are pre-measured and portioned. The card lets you know what additional items you will need that you have on hand like salt, pepper, olive oil, pan, etc... 


The meal kits I received were the Thai Red Curry Shrimp with jasmine rice and snow peas and Parisian Bistro Steak with dauphinoise potatoes and green beans. Fancy, huh?


In your first order, you will receive a binder to keep your recipe cards organized. The cards come already hole-punched to make things easier. 


I am an avid cook and for those who know me, you know that I can do some magical things in the kitchen. It took a lot out of me to feel comfortable cooking something I thought might lack flavor. I decided to be open-minded and give Home Chef a chance. I am SO glad that I did! Both meals exceeded my expectations and tasted like they were from a high-end restaurant. Each dish runs around $9.95 per serving which is less than dining out at a fine establishment. 

The Parisian Bistro Steak with dauphinoise potatoes and green beans was amazing! The steaks were about 1 1/2 inch thick. I had to finish the cooking in the oven because they were too rare. I seasoned them with sea salt and cracked pepper according to the instructions and I'm glad I did. The sauce was full of flavor and any more seasoning would have ruined the dish. Those potatoes were everything! The Parmesan shavings added such good flavor along with the shallots, chives, and heavy cream. My advice is to follow the instructions and you will not go wrong at all. 


The Thai Red Curry Shrimp with jasmine rice and snow peas was so delicious and full of flavor as well. It tasted just like what I order at my favorite Asian Bistro without the hefty price tag. The shrimp were very fresh as well as the vegetables. I could eat this meal a few times a month and never get sick of it.


My overall opinion about Home Chef is very positive. The ingredients are super fresh and high quality. They even indicate on the recipe card a timeframe to cook your meals in the event you order multiple meals at once. This allows you to know what needs to be cooked first. Seriously, this makes meal planning a breeze. You are able to try different things to make meal time more interesting. I plan to order more meals in the near future since it saves so much time and money when you factor food delivery costs. I always thought these types of meal delivery services would break the bank and it really doesn't. Some exotic ingredients can cost an arm and a leg, but with Home Chef, they send you just what you need for your meal. This beats being stuck with an ingredient you may only use once or twice a year and end up throwing it away. 

What I really love is that you can send a gift card so you are able to share the gift of food with the people you love from far away. This is excellent if you have a college student living on campus and you want them to have healthy options. If you've been on the fence about trying this type of service, don't wait any longer. Give Home Chef a try and I feel like you won't be disappointed. This would be a great gift idea for the person who has everything. 

For more information about Home Chef, visit them at their website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates and promotions. 

I received a promotional code to redeem towards meals from Home Chef. All opinions are 100% my own as always. 
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Struggling For Recipe Ideas? Here Are 5 Places To Get Inspiration!

It’s that time of week again parents - time to decide what the family will be eating this week. It’s time to draw up a shopping list, ingredients list and recipe list - even if you’re lacking inspiration.
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So instead of resorting to pizza and chips for the hundredth time, take a look down this list. From eBook downloads to YouTube videos, we’ve gathered all the best places for you to research and read recipes. It’s time for some fresh ideas!

1. Cooking eBooks

The reason I say ‘eBooks’ over regular books is that eBooks can store a lot more data. That means more recipes for you, and more ideas for you! Plus, with an eBook reader, you can store hundreds of individual books. Theoretically, this means you will never run out of ideas.

But firstly; where do you get these eBooks? Most eBook readers have a built in store, so try there. The selection may be limited, though. Alternatively, a site like Tradebit offers users the ability to download dozens and dozens of cookbooks at the click of a button. No more will you be out of ideas!

2. Recipe creation tools

One of the hard parts about coming up with recipe ideas is deciding what ingredients to use. There are hundreds to choose from, but which works best? Which will taste best?

Fortunately, the web is here to help. The advanced search tool on sites like AllRecipes lets you search for recipes by ingredients. So, for example, you could enter ‘buffalo chicken’ and ‘rice’ and be greeted with dishes containing those too. Or, you can choose to exclude ingredients from your search.

3. YouTube
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A lot of recipes are too long, too drawn out and not very engaging. That’s often what leads us to not cooking something very creative, or just whacking something in the oven.

But what if it wasn’t this way? What if recipes were engaging and made you want to eat that food? The advent of social media has seen the rise of many bitesize recipe videos which are plastered across YouTube. These are made with the intent to be shared, and as such are as short as you’re going to get.

4. Family recipes

Our families are full of hidden secrets. Did you know that your Uncle John is a two-time Olympic gold medalist? Or how about your Auntie Susan, whose claim to fame was appearing as an extra in Titanic?

Well, those probably aren’t true - but if they are, what an incredible guess! What’s more likely is that your family has that one special recipe, that secret that’s passed down from generation to generation. If you haven’t heard yours yet, now’s the time to ask - it could give you that inspiration boost that you need.

5. Try alternate cooking methods
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Perhaps you’re a bare-bones type of cooker. You like to stick with a familiar set of ingredients and don’t like to venture outside your comfort zone. And that’s fine! You don’t have to.

But there is a way to do this and still get great new ideas - try cooking the food differently. Instead of making chips, make those potatoes into a delicious sauteed dish. Braised meat tastes like an entirely different creation to roasted meat. Instead of frying those eggs, why not poach them?

The point here is that perhaps your cooking habits have grown a little stale. You’re using the same ingredients in the same cooking methods for weeks and weeks. By changing your cooking methods, you’re still in your comfort zone but are making things more exciting.

And that’s what cooking is all about.

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bistroMD’s Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving will be here in a matter of weeks and many of you may be menu-planning already. Here are some healthy Thanksgiving recipes courtesy of bistroMD. I'ms sure we all could 'healthify' one of the most decadent meals of the year. Even if it's just a couple dishes. Check it out...

bistroMD’s Roasted Turkey Breast with Cranberry Chutney Recipe

Nutrition Per Serving (serving includes: 5 oz Turkey Breast + ¼ cup Cranberry Chutney + ½ cup Butternut Squash and Wild Rice Blend + ¾ cup Broccoli):

Calories: 300
Protein: 29 grams
Net Carbohydrate: 27 grams
Ingredients:

Roasted Turkey Breast:
5-6 lb Turkey Breast, bone-in, skinless
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
4 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 tablespoon Sage, fresh, chopped
1 teaspoon Thyme, fresh, chopped
1 tablespoon Rosemary, fresh, chopped
1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
1 teaspoon Sea Salt
½ teaspoon Black Pepper

Cranberry Chutney:
1 lb Cranberries, fresh
½ cup Raspberries, frozen
¼ cup Water
½ cup Celery, finely chopped
Juice and Zest of 1 Orange
1 tablespoon Honey
¼ teaspoon Cinnamon

Roasted Butternut Squash and Wild Rice Blend:
1 cup Wild Rice Blend (we like Lundberg Wild Blend)
1 Butternut Squash, cubed
1 Fennel Bulb, sliced
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
¼ teaspoon Sea Salt
¼ teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions:
Roasted Turkey Breast:
Pre-heat oven to 325 °F
In a small bowl combine the olive oil, garlic, herbs, sea salt and black pepper to make a paste. Then rub the mixture into the turkey breast, coating all sides.
Transfer to a roasting pan and roast for about 1 ½ hours to 1 ¾ hours, until an instant read thermometer registered 165 °F when inserted into the thickest part of the breast.
Remove from oven, cover with foil and allow to rest for 15 minutes before slicing.

Cranberry Chutney:
Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add water, orange juice, orange zest, honey and cinnamon and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium-low and add cranberries. Continue to cook until they become soft and burst, about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add raspberries and celery, cook an additional 10 minutes, until raspberries begin to burst.
Reduce heat to low and cover until ready to serve.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Wild Rice Blend:
Pre-heat oven to 425 °F.
Cook rice according to package directions.
Spread butternut squash and fennel evenly, in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil, sea salt and black pepper over the squash mixture and toss with your hands to coat.
Roast for 20-30 minutes, until squash is turning golden around the edges. Stir squash mixture halfway through cooking.
Once rice is complete, fluff with a fork and transfer to a serving bowl. Combine butternut squash and fennel with the rice, toss and serve

bistroMD’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie Tartlets

Nutrition Per Tartlet (Serves: approximately 15 tartlets):

Calories: 150
NET Carbohydrate: 12 grams
Protein: 4 grams

Ingredients:
Pie Crust:
1.5 cups Almond Flour
1 Egg
2 tablespoons Butter, unsalted

Pie Filling:
1 can (15 oz) Pumpkin Puree
½ can Coconut Milk, unsweetened
½ cup Honey
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
½ teaspoon Ginger, ground
¼ teaspoon Cloves, ground
½ teaspoon Sea Salt

Instructions:

Pie Crust:
Preheat oven to 350 °F.
Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender until a smooth dough forms.
Spritz muffin pan with non-stick olive oil spray or use muffin liners.
Press approximately 1 tablespoon of dough into each cup and press to evenly fill the bottom.

Pie Filling:
Add all ingredients to a medium sized bowl and mix using a hand mixer until smooth. Or add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Divide filling amongst muffin cups.
Bake approximately 10-15 minutes or until center is set.
Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before removing from pan

bistroMD’s Quinoa and Pumpkin Seed Stuffed Acorn Squash

Nutritional Information: (for each serving, serves 8):

Calories: 219
Protein: 5g
Carbohydrates: 44g
Ingedients:

4 medium acorn squash, halved lengthwise with the seeds removed
3 cups of water
2 cups quinoa
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 ½ cups diced onion
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced celery
1 tablespoon minced cardamom
1/8 tablespoon of turmeric
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup diced apples
1/4 cup dried currants
1/3 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Adjust rack to the middle shelf.
Simmer the quinoa in 3 cups of water to make fluffy, this should take 15 to 20 minutes.
While the quinoa cooks, add the onions and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and cook until softened, stirring frequently, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the carrots, celery, cardamom and turmeric.
Using fresh apples, cut into small dices and soak with lemon juice.
Cover the pan and simmer the vegetables for 5 minutes until they are tender.
In a big bowl, toss together the quinoa and vegetables. Stir in the dried fruit, diced apples, pumpkin seeds, nutmeg and season with salt and pepper.
Brush the skin of the squash lightly with olive oil. Place the squash, cut side down, in a baking pan.
Pour 1/2-inch of boiling water into the pan and bake for 20 minutes to soften the squash. Move the squash to a plate and set aside until cool enough to handle.
Stuff the squash halves with the quinoa mix, return them, stuffing-up to the pan, and bake until the flesh can be easily pierced with the tip of a paring knife. This should take 30 minutes or less.

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Effortlessly Add Flavor To Your Meals #PublixFlavorExcursion


Do you have a few go-to meals that you make all the time? Do you ever feel like they need to be kicked up a bit? By adding a couple of extra ingredients, you can really make your meal stand out. The first step is to keep your kitchen stocked with some basic staples so that you always have add-in ingredients on hand. Products like Ro*tel Tomatoes, Hunt's Tomatoes, Progresso Bread Crumbs, Kraft shredded cheese, Kraft dressings and even avocados from Mexico can transform any meal.

I just love to use Progress Italian Style bread crumbs in my favorite Italian Cheese-Stuffed Meatball recipe.
I make my meatballs with both ground beef and ground pork. Of course, you can use turkey, chicken or whatever you prefer. I seasoned my meats with finely chopped Italian parsley, jalapeno pepper, red onion and garlic, along with 1/3 cup of Progresso Italian Style bread crumbs, one beaten egg and a dash or two of my favorite dry seasonings. Once meat mixture is well mixed, I form them into balls and insert a small cube of cheese.
I put the shaped meatballs in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes to chill up and ensure that they stay in the round shape. I pan fry them in a tiny bit of canola oil until they are brown all over and continue the cook in a preheated 375 degree oven. These are great as an appetizer or even to drop into your favorite spaghetti sauce.

Another favorite meal I make is my stewed chicken and veggies. It sort of had a little Mexican-Italian fusion.
I start with washed and dried chicken wings that I season with garlic powder, Spanish seasoning and Italian seasoning. I brown my wings and drain the excess oil. I then add a can of Hunt's Diced Tomatoes in the Basil, Garlic & Oregano variety, 1/4 cup ketchup, 1/3 cup water and one bag of frozen Gumbo mix veggies. I add additional seasoning to taste including a pinch of sugar for balance and some dried Italian herbs and Adobo seasoning. I let it all simmer until the chicken is completely cooked through and the veggies get tender. All you do is serve over your favorite rice and you have a hearty meal, perfect for a weeknight supper.

Be sure to visit your local Publix Supermarket for In-Store Savings.
Look for the in-store displays and recipe cards to find delicious recipe ideas and coupon savings. Offers available from 9/10-9/23

• $2.00 off Publix Produce with the purchase of Any Four (4) participating products 
Participating products: select Old El Paso items**, Ro*tel Tomatoes, Hunt’s Tomatoes, Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese, Avocados from Mexico
**Items include Dinner Kits, Seasoning Mixes, Enchilada Sauce, Refried Beans
• $2.00 off Publix Chicken with the purchase of Any Four (4) participating products 
Participating products: Progresso Bread Crumbs, Progresso Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth, Kraft Salad Dressing, Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese, Hunt’s Tomatoes
• $1.00 off Any Five (5) Ro*tel Tomatoes (10 oz.)
• $1.00 off Any Five (5) Hunt’s Tomatoes (14.5 oz.) 
• Save $1.00 on Avocados from Mexico when you buy three (3) Old El Paso products (1-31 oz.) 
• Save $1.00 on three (3) Betty Crocker casserole potatoes (4.5-5.1 oz.) 
• Save $1.50 on two (2) Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes (12.5-17.9 oz.) 

See store for more details including dates and specific products and sizes included in offers.

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Check Out The All New Food Lion Recipe Portal #LifesBetterWithTheLion


Do you ever feel like you keep cooking the same exact meals over and over again? I'm pretty sure most of us feel this way and get stuck in a rut. I am always looking for ideas online and sometimes even that can be overwhelming. I recently was introduced to the new Food Lion website with their recipe portal. The site is super clean and easy to maneuver and find things. You can sign up for a Food Lion MVP card either online or in-store. I created an account on the website using my MVP card. Once you're logged in, you are open to a host of tools at your fingertips. The recipe portal is broken down into categories ranging from main dishes, vegetables, sides, desserts and more. Once you find a recipe you are interested in, you are able to click on the individual ingredients and add them to your shopping list. How convenient is that? You can even find recipes according to a specific ingredient.

If you have a recipe you would like to share, you can easily submit it into the portal. All you need is a couple photos, a list of ingredients and the steps to prepare. I submitted one of my favorite recipes for my Easy Cheesy Zucchini and it took me under 10 minutes. I love the fact that the recipes on the Food Lion site are from home kitchens like yours and mine.
My zucchini recipe is a big hit and I know it will be for other families. The recipe is so easy and doesn't require any outrageous, hard-to-find ingredients.
Want the full recipe? Go check it out here. While you're there, be sure to browse other recipes and submit your own. Be sure to sign up for your MVP card so you can take advantage of their low prices. You can even track your savings on your dashboard when you are logged into your account.

Be sure to connect with Food Lion on the web, Facebook and Twitter for promotions and updates.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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Easy Cheesy Stuffed Zucchini Recipe

I am a huge fan of all things vegetables, but unfortunately that's not really the case for my family. We try to have vegetarian meals a couple times a week and I feel like I get stuck making the same old things. One of my favorite summer vegetables is zucchini. I can eat it prepared in any way-- sauteed, baked, in soups or stews, and even raw with dips. My husband and daughters do not share my love of zucchini at all. I decided to come up with a way to make them at least give it a try again. I figured a little cheese and savory flavor would help with those picky eaters. I came up with the perfect dish that is big hit with my family. My husband had to admit that zucchini isn't as bad as he thought it was. 

Check out my delicious recipe for Cheesy Stuffed Zucchini...


Ingredients: 
3-4 small zucchini 
4 ounces (half pack) of cream cheese 
Grated Parmesan cheese 
Garlic powder
Cracked pepper
Red pepper flakes (optional) 
Feta cheese
Seasoned bread crumbs 
Olive oil for your baking dish

Directions:
Spread cream cheese mixture evenly in the zucchini halves (layer will be thin). Sprinkle a little bit of feta on top of cream cheese mixture and then follow with the bread crumbs. Just a little of both will do. Bake in oven uncovered about 35-45Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat a baking dish with your favorite olive oil and set aside. Cut the ends off each zucchini and then slice lengthwise in half. With a spoon, scoop out the seeds without taking away too much of the flesh. Mix cream cheese with a few sprinkles of Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, black pepper and crushed red pepper flakes to taste.  minutes depending on how big your zucchinis are. You can insert a fork to check for doneness. Enjoy!

You can serve this recipe as a side dish or even a main dish. Feel free to add or take away any ingredients to make it your own. Let me know if you try it!
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The Best Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Today I woke up thinking about baking something. I haven't baked any treats in almost a month and thought I would surprise my family with some cupcakes. My hubby is a big fan of yellow cake with chocolate frosting so I went with that. I usually make a chocolate buttercream frosting that we all love, but I really wanted cream cheese frosting. I make plain cream cheese frosting most of the time, but what about a chocolate cream cheese frosting? I searched recipes online and couldn't believe how many variations I found. I looked at about ten recipes and my head started spinning. I closed up my laptop and decided to try making it based off of how I make plain cream cheese frosting. The end result was a rich, creamy, slightly tart and sweet chocolately explosion!

Instead of using salted butter like I usually do, I use unsalted. I also added some pure almond extract as well as pure vanilla. I think the hint of almond flavor really makes it extra special. See the complete recipe below.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
1 8 ounce pack of cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
3 1/2 confectioners sugar
1/2 cup minus 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp pure almond extract
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3-4 tbsp cold whole milk or cream

Directions:
Cream butter and cream cheese together in large mixer bowl. Blend in almond and vanilla extract. Slowly add confectioners sugar and cocoa. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach the consistency desired. You can spread it on cakes or cupcakes or pipe it like I did. It's so easy and is better than anything store bought.

Enjoy and please let me know if you try this recipe. Thanks for reading!
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Liberte Mediterranee is truly #YogurtPerfection $15 PayPal giveaway

Thanks to Liberté Méditerranée for sponsoring today's discussion

Have you ever heard of or tried Liberte Mediterranee yogurt before? I was introduced to it from a friend almost two years ago and I have been completely hooked ever since. My friends and family often call me a food snob for good reason, this yogurt is premium perfection that exceeds my standards. I have tried almost all of the flavors except the two newest ones: Caramel and Cappuccino. I have been stalking my local Publix supermarket in hopes they will start to carry them.
In the meantime, my all-time favorite is the coconut flavor. The first time I tried it I had a moment. I closed my eyes and felt like I was eating freshly grated coconut mixed into the creamiest, richest yogurt I ever tasted. It was absolutely divine! It's made with whole milk and has no artificial sweeteners or preservatives. I have converted many yogurt lovers into Liberte Yogurt lovers.
I mostly enjoy my yogurt as is, but on occasion I will add some granola on top for breakfast. Another yummy way to take my Yogurt Perfection to the next level is with one of my favorite Liberte recipes, a fabulous fruit smoothie. I take my favorite fresh and frozen fruits, ice cubes and a container of Liberte Mediterranee and blend it into the most gorgeous (yes, gorgeous) smoothie ever!

Right now you can print a coupon to save 20 cents on a cup of Liberte at Publix. They are almost always on sale 10 for $10 and trust me, if you haven't already tried it, you will buy 10 at a time. You should check out their interactive page that tells you the story behind Liberte-- it's awesome! Just one thing, please don't get mad at me when you get hooked on Liberte. You definitely want to take advantage of the Liberte Publix coupon ;)

To help you stock on Liberte yogurt, one lucky Mom Files reader will win $15 PayPal cash. Enter below: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on February 25, 2015. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email to be awarded prize. Good luck! 


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