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.

New Product- Softsoap Brand Pure Foaming Hand Soap

Softsoap has added another hand soap to their product line. Introducing Softsoap Brand Pure Foaming Hand Soap. It comes in 2 scents- Fresh and Lemongrass. I like the fact that it is dye free and the fragrance is natural. The pump is easy to use and dispenses the product evenly and without any drips or mess. I like using this particular type of hand soap, especially for my little one.

Softsoap has been a trusted brand for me and my family for many years. It cleans effectively and leaves a very light fragrance. I like both scents, but the Fresh is my favorite. You can find this product at most mass retail, drug and grocery stores. They come in 8-ounce size and retail for $2.50.

You can learn about Softsoap's products on their website and follow them on Facebook for their latest products updates and promotions.

I received product samples from Colgate-Palmolive for review purposes. All opinions are my own as always. 

Now Available at Publix Stores- Tabanero Hot Sauces #TabLife

If you like hot and spicy, I have something you are sure to like. Introducing Tabanero Hot Sauces, now available at your local Publix Supermarket. Tabanero sauces come in 3 varieties- Original Hot, Extra Hot, and Agave Sweet & Spicy. The Original Hot variety is actually more of a medium heat to me, so if you can't handle too much heat, this is a good one to try. It goes well with chili, soups or most savory dishes that need a little kick. 

I personally love the Agave Sweet & Spicy. It has a good balance of sweet and heat. It works well to add a kick to your chicken or meat marinade. The thing that makes Tabanero unique is that it's all-natural and not vinegar based like most hot sauces. Also, its unique flavor comes from the combination of carrots, onions, garlic, Key Lime juice, red habanero peppers and Agave nectar; which balances out the heat of the habaneros and adds a hint of sweetness. The perfect balance of flavor and heat to spice up any dish with a flavorful zest. They refer to their sauces as "Healthy Heat". 

Tasting is believing! You can incorporate Tabanero sauces into so many savory dishes and surprisingly, even a couple of sweets. Check out some of the recipe ideas on their website. Tabanero products are available in many restaurants across the country and can be purchased online as well as in Publix Supermarkets. Be sure to follow Tabanero on Twitter and Facebook for their zesty updates. 

I received product samples to review in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are my own as always. 

Not Done This Before? Here's What You Need For Your Baby Nursery

Pregnancy can be the most incredible experience of your life. Or it might be your worst! Either way, you will soon have a beautiful little person to adore and nurture. The nesting phase of pregnancy turns up at different times for everyone. But when you feel that urge to get up and knock together some flat-packed furniture, you’ll know you’re there. So what does a newborn baby actually need for their bedroom or nursery? Here are some of the things you’ll need to consider:

Sleeping
A newborn baby can sleep almost anywhere that is same, warm, and enclosed to prevent falling. Some cultures choose a box like a drawer. Others offer their babies the floor with a cushion nest. You may be rushing out to buy a big cot. Perhaps it converts overtime to become a toddler bed. Consider also getting a Moses basket and a rocking frame. These are really portable so you can move your sleeping baby around the house with you. Best of all, they can be placed next to your bed, so you don’t have to get up to give him a feed in the night.

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Changing

All you really need is a wipe-down mat to pop the baby on while you clean him up and dress him again. But after a caesarean or a particularly painful birth, getting down on your knees on the floor is no fun. Instead, try a baby changing station. This is a cabinet on lockable casters that can be moved around the nursery as you need. The top of it is the right size and shape for your changing mat to sit upon. Then you can change your baby without needing to kneel or bend over. Inside the cabinet is ample storage for nappies, sacks, wipes, and powder. 

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Feeding

Breastfeeding is not easy for you and bubba to master. Nor does it feel natural for many women. The important thing to do is to get yourself comfortable. When your tummy has gone, you’ll find you need to lift the baby up to your chest. And if your baby struggles to feed, you could be there for over an hour seven or eight times a day. You can try a baby sling, or a nursing pillow to leave your arms free for caressing your bubba, or changing the channel on the TV! Make sure you have a comfortable seat. You might enjoy a recliner so you can put your feet up. Why not get a rocker so you can soothe little one to sleep?

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Playing

All babies, toddlers, and children need plenty of toys. They help your baby to learn more about taste, touch, smell, sound, and everything else in the world around them. Some will be used as comforters. Others will be used as amusing ways to wind you up! But all of them will be of value to your child’s physical, emotional and mental development. You might start with a comforter teddy bear and a cot mobile.

Having a baby will keep you busy for years. It’s important to get the nursery ready ahead of the birth for your own comfort and peace of mind. Get some help with the heavy bits, though!

Simply Straight™ Ceramic Straightening Brush Review & Giveaway

The information, product, and giveaway have been provided to me by Ontel. All thoughts and opinions are my own as always. 

I have had my eye on the Simply Straight™ Ceramic Straightening Brush for about a year now. I've seen the commercials on TV and love the idea of a brush that can smooth and straighten hair rather than using a damaging flat iron. Ever since I had my last child, my hair has changed a lot. It used to be super sleek and straight and now it is wavy and unpredictable. I couldn't wait to put this beauty tool to the test!

Information about Simply Straight™:

Simply Straight™ is a ceramic straightening brush that provides a revolutionary way to straighten and smooth all types of hair in minutes, without flattening, frying or damaging tresses. Perfectly straightens hair fast and easy!

Simply Straight™ combines the power of salon heat straightening up to 450° with the gentle styling ability of a brush to make straightening hair as easy as brushing it. The unique ceramic-wrapped bristles easily detangle and lift hair at the root to evenly deliver gentle heat around every strand, for straight, healthy, shiny hair that’s manageable and loaded with volume.

Combining innovation with simplicity, Simply Straight™ effortlessly tames unruly curls, waves and frizz, delivering long-lasting salon-quality results in no time. Simply Straight™ has adjustable temperatures for specific hair types and heats up to the ideal temperature in seconds.

Simply Straight’s™ bristles are coated for safe and gentle straightening and a voluminous finish. The Simply Straight™ brush heats up fast and has an “auto shut off” feature that activates after 60 minutes of power.

For best results and a sleek finish, use on dry hair and brush slowly in a pulling motion to ensure hair gets deep into the inner area of the brush.

So does it actually work? Here is a before and after shot. As you can see, I have uneven waves and after using Simply Straight™, my hair became straight and silky. I did set the temperature fairly high since I have very thick and resistant hair. 

I am pleased with how easy it is to use as well as the end result. I don't see smoke coming from my hair like I normally would using a flat iron. It also did not snag or pull my hair at all. I do suggest that you brush or comb through your hair before using. This will be a great tool to pack when I travel for quick touch-ups. You can purchase Simply Straight™ here for only $39.99 and also at many major retailers. Be sure to follow Simply Straight on Facebook for promotions and updates. 

Want to try the Simply Straight™ Ceramic Straightening Brush out for yourself? One lucky Mom Files reader will win one of their very own! ($39.99 value) Enter below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only and will end on July 22, 2016. Be sure to follow rules within Rafflecopter widget for entries to count. Mom Files is NOT responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. One winner will be contacted via email to claim prize. Good luck!