Finish Quantum and Jet Dry Turbo Dry Review and Giveaway

Recently I was able to review Finish Quantum and Jet-Dry Turbo Dry. It was no better time than Thanksgiving to try out these what I believe are wonderful products. Easy to use and my dishes came out looking great.

 I am the mom of 6 children so all ready I have a ton of dishes to wash but for Thanksgiving we made more food than we normally do and served more individuals as well so you can imagine how many dishes we had to wash. I loved the fact that we did not have to pre-wash the dishes because Finish Quantum is designed to wash your dishes the first time the right way without worry of having to pre-rinse or re-wash. .

The results that I found using the Finish Quantum is that the dishes came out beautiful and shining. All that I had to do is to put them in the dishwasher and up when they were done. Finish Quantum is easy to use because there is no measuring needed, wrapper to remove or mess to worry about. Finish Quantum comes in its own package that works like a capsule that dissolves on its own leaving no waste behind. The capsule like package is simply placed in the detergent cup before the machine is turned on. Oh what ease in doing dishes that was. No worry or frustrating moment as I found all looked great

Jet-Dry Gel is a wonderful product as well that left my dishes shining and looking great. Built with a powermax bleach that helps to remove hard stains such as tea and coffee and enzymes that help to soften burnt on food  I must say that I have a few casseroles that have a few burnt on pieces that no matter the struggle I just could not get it off. Using these products the casserole dishes came out looking much younger in its life span, the stains were not totally removed but were lessened.

Recently Finish Quantum was featured on Designing Spaces where a few tips to clean dishes in the dishwasher were shared. A few tips to get the best results with the Finish Quantum product is to:

• Scrape, don’t rinse – Scrape your dishes because active ingredients in your detergent need food residue to work properly.I can remember as a child with my mothers dish washer we had to nearly wash the dishes prior to putting them in the dishwasher
• Load properly – As a general rule of thumb, cups, glasses and less soiled items should be placed on the top rack and larger and dirtier items are best on the bottom rack.
• Avoid cloudy glasses – If cloudy film can be removed by rubbing vinegar on your glass, then you have hard water in your home and need to use a detergent, like FINISH® Quantum®, that’s been designed to soften the water so the detergent can do its work.

Buy: you Can buy both the Future Quantum and Jet Dry Turbo Dry products at your local retail and grocery store

Win: Five (5) winners will win a sample of the Finish Quantum and Turbo Dry Jet Dry products

To enter giveaway share with me one of your toughest stains to remove on dishes

Extra Entries:

• follow my blog
• follow me on twitter
• subscribe to my blog through reader or email (2 entries each)

Giveaway starts now and will end December 4, 2010. Good Luck Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entries will not count

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of FINISH and received a sample of FINISH Quantum and JET-DRY Turbo Dry. Mom Central Consulting also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate

Raspberry Crumble Bars

nonstick cooking spray


1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

2 large egg yolks

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2/3 cup raspberry jam

1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1.Heat oven to 350° F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with the cooking spray. Line the pan with a piece of parchment, leaving an over-hang on two sides; spray the parchment with the cooking spray.

2.In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

3.Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just combined (do not overmix).

4.Transfer two-thirds of the dough to the prepared pan and press in evenly; spread the jam on top. Crumble the remaining dough over the jam and sprinkle with the walnuts. Bake until golden, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool completely in the pan.

5.Holding both sides of the paper overhang, lift the cake out of the pan, transfer to a cutting board, and cut into 24 rectangles (6 rows by 4 rows). Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days

Giveaway to help keep you organized

Do hou need some help to keep you organized this holiday season or have a planned organization for the new year? Well then the giveaway located at Leslie Loves Vegies can help. One lucky winner will recieve  15 piece Rubbermaid TakeAlongs set, a Sharpie Stainless Steel Permanent Marker, Set of 8 Sharpie Retractable Markers and a set of 3 Sharpie Pen Retractables {$44.72 value}  Now that should get anyone off to a good start at getting organized. Happy Holidays and Happy Organizing the giveaway ends 12/15/2010

Win a Recordable Story Book

Living away from my grandbabies is not an easy thing to do. I would love to be closer to them to do so many different things. One thing that I know that my Princess loves to do and I do  not get to do it often enough is to be read to. I love the new Hallmark Recordable Storybooks as I can record my voice reading the story and she can play it as often as she likes. The blog Sisterly Savings has the fine opportunity to host a giveaway sponsored by Sisterly Savings where one lucky winner will receive one of the recordable storybooks. Giveaway ends December 12, 2010

Win a Bed Head Hair Dryer

The term bed head a term once used for hair that has been tossled around making it look like it had not been touched after rising from the bed now takes on a fantastic new outlook. Bed Head products are beauty products created to make the user look their very best. Currently Jennifer from the blog Mom Spotted is hosting a giveaway where the winner will win the Bed Head hair dryer. The giveaway ends December 6, 2010

The Little Looster Now In Commercials

The Little Looster as you may remember is the perfect step up for the little potty trainers that is not hard for the rest of the family to live with. I reviewd the Little Looster in August and many of you loved it. Did you remember to tell your friends about it as well. Well now The Littel Looster will be commercialized on T.V. channels SoapNet, TVLand & WE and I just want to remind you that The Little Looster can be purchased on their website located at http://www.buyloosterbooster.com/

Win a Threadless Tee

Some of the cutest tees ever made for little people or big people alike can be found at Threadless Tees. If you want to check them out before you place an order then you should enter the giveaway located at Thanks Mail Carrier Xenia is hosting a giveaway sponsored by Threadless tees where a lucky winner will win a childs tee from Threadless tees. The giveaway ends 12/17/2010 

Coolwhip Prize Pack giveaway

I shared with you last week a couple of ongoing giveaways sponsored by CoolWhip. Not only is CoolWhip great to eat on top of our desserts but there are so many wonderful recipes that CoolWhip can be used in. MomStart is also sponsoring a giveaway sponsored by CoolWhip where the winner will get this delicious prize pack.

Giveaway ends December 13, 2010

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

1 pound ground hot pork sausage
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 1/2 cups frozen cubed hash browns
5 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 3/4 cups milk
1 cup all-purpose baking mix
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Toppings: picante sauce or green hot sauce, sour cream
Garnish: fresh parsley sprigs

Cook sausage and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until meat crumbles. Stir in hash browns, and cook 5 to 7 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink and potatoes are lightly browned. Drain mixture on paper towels; spoon into a greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Stir together eggs, cheese, and next 4 ingredients; pour evenly over sausage mixture, stirring well. Cover and chill 8 hours. Bake, covered with nonstick foil, at 350° for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven, and let stand 5 minutes. Serve with desired toppings. Garnish, if desired.

Recipe Source Southern Living 2003

Mary Did you Know

Tommorow is the first sunday of the Advent season and we as we celebrate the hope that we have in a new day I reflect on one of my favorite songs for this season. I am just in aww as I think about a young virgin girl seeing an angel that would bring the news to her that she would bear a child, the pregnancy and long journey as told in the bible and finally watching as her baby become a man who not only performed miracles but would be sacrificied on the cross and rise and go to heaven

Pirate vs Pirate Gave from Out of the Box Games review

If you are looking for a perfect gift for someone or simply something fun to do when the weather outside is not the best you may want to check out of Out of Box Games. From games for children to games for adults Out of the Box Games has a game that is perfect. Last year I shared the review for another Out Of the Box game Word on the Street We had a super good time with that game and it made for not only wonderful family time but got our minds to thinking as well. Recently we had another chance to review an Out Of the Box Game Pirate vs. Pirate. Since many of the males in our family are into pirates this is not only a game that will be enjoyed by the ladies of the house but I believe the men will eagerly want to play as well.

Pirates vs Pirates as described by the sponsor is a:
Swashbucklin’ Game of Swords and Rewaaarrrds! Three bands of pirates have discovered an island brimming with treasure. Conquer the island by capturing the gold and silver, or by eliminating the enemy pirates. Position your pirates carefully, enemies are all around and they are hungry for treasure!


Pirates vs pirates is a game that is recommended for individuals from ages 8 to adult. It is a game that should take minutes to learn and can be played with either 2 or 3 players. I love these sort of games that are easy to learn and requires only a few amount of people. This game is one that I would say will be played quite a bit because if there are only 2 of my teens that want to play a game then they can play this however we also love those round robin games where we can play the game several different times til the champ is crowned. In this case it would be the pirate of all pirates I for one do not like games that have complex rules that take more time to read than playing the game. The fact that this game is easy to learn to play makes it perfect for me. Another feature that I love is that it takes 20 to 30 minutes to play so it is a time filler but also one that does not take more time to play than one has time.

This Out of the Box game or any of the other great games available would make wonderful Christmas presents. Check out all the great games available from Out of the Box Games on their website located at http://www.otb-games.com Locate a retailer near you for Out of the Box games to find the perfect game for you or the gift receiver.

Hello Dolly Bars

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 9 cookie sheets)

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 tablespoon water

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup butterscotch morsels

2/3 cup flaked sweetened coconut

1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

1 (15-ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.



Line the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper; cut off excess parchment paper around top edge of pan.

Place crumbs in a medium bowl. Drizzle with butter and 1 tablespoon water; toss with a fork until moist. Gently pat mixture into an even layer in pan (do not press firmly). Sprinkle chips and morsels over crumb mixture. Top evenly with coconut and pecans. Drizzle milk evenly over top. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly around edges. Cool completely on wire rack.

Cheeseburger Soup

1/2 pound ground beef

3/4 cup chopped onion

3/4 cup shredded carrots

3/4 cup diced celery

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

4 tablespoons butter, divided

3 cups chicken broth

4 cups diced peeled potatoes (1-3/4 pounds)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups (8 ounces) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product

1-1/2 cups milk

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup sour cream

In a 3-qt. saucepan, brown beef; drain and set aside. In the same saucepan, saute onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley in 1 tablespoon butter until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add broth, potatoes and beef; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining butter. Add flour; cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly. Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add cheese, milk, salt and pepper; cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from the heat; blend in sour cream. Yield: 8 servings (2-1/4 quarts).

recipe source: Taste of Home

Won't be Around Much My Friend

I will not be around much for the next two days as we gather together to shop for what we need for Thanksgiving dinner, prepare what we can ahead of time, and chat and play cards as well share a great time with friends and family. If you are an American friend then I hope that you have a great time with family and friends as well and if you are not then I still hope tht you find peace today my friend

10 tips for weaving the hottest runway trends into your day-to-day looks

No matter if you are a stay at home mom or a mom who works out of the house if you are like me then you often find yourself to busy to worry about style and fashion. Looking good is one thing but if we stop to make sure that we are stylish then it takes up the time that we can be spending with our kids, cooking our favorite meal, or posting on a blog. What we can do is take a few minutes read about the top fashion style and try to imitate it the best that we can. Sears and TwitterMoms has requested a list of the ten top tips of how we can weave the top style trends that are found on the fashion runway now into the wardrobe that we all ready have.


1. One of the hot colors for outerwear like coats, sweaters, or suit jacket is camel. So one of the easiest things you can do here and save a bit of money as well is to search your closet, good will or sales for a nice camel colored jacket.

2. purchase a pair of knee high or over knee high socks and dress up the look. The same old knee highs that I remember wearing as a kid are back in style and look great with shorts or skirts

3. Military look goes feminine is a hot look that can be mimicked at home. Take that old camo jacket and tag it up with a nice Lacey shirt and you will have a fashion look in no time.

4. The sporty look can be achieved with a cute pair of Capri pants that tie at the bottom and a nice tee or tank that fits nicely layered with a jacket

5. Bring back dads white long sleeve tees like we all wore in high school. Roll up the long sleeves to the elbow or just below layer with a cute tee or a color full tank

6. Another way that you can easily achieve style is by putting a bit of color into your wardrobe.

7. The sweaters of yesterday will make a return trip. I can remember the animal print sweaters with reindeer's etc.. can easily be redone at home to make a sweet fashionable stylish look

8. A nice look where less is more is also often very fashionable as well as sexy. Just take a look at the little black dress, little flair or fashion is needed yet it carries itself nicely

9. Chunky knitted items like that sweater you have had for a bit paired with fur topped boots and a pair of slender jeans can make that look hot, sophisticated and sexy

10. Go a bit out of your personality and mix fun colors, shades and prints. This not only is perfect for the fashions of winter 2011 but also will be fun as well. While it may take someone with a strong personality to wear such an outfit it can be done



Taking just a few minutes out of your busy lifestyle to plan an outfit can put you in style without spending a lot of money or time.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Kenmore blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Unthawing a turkey

My tackle today is thawing the Thanksgiving Turkey. Since we will be cooking the turkey Thursday night I took the turkey out of the freezer and placed it in the bottom of the fridge. This will unthaw the turkey nicely in time for cooking Thursday. It is fairly easy to unthaw a turkey there are just some safety measures that you must follow after all we don't want any food poising as a holiday guest. Will you be unthawing a turkey? You may want to take a look at the link in this post to help you out.

5 minutes for mom

Holiday Movie giveaway

I so loved holiday movies when i was a kid. My uncles would all sit around with us kids as we watched the Holiday Movies. The aunts of course would all be at work getting the meal ready to eat. My favorite was probably the yogi bear movies. You can win a great movie to share with your family this holiday season. The blog Girl Gone Mom is hosting a giveaway sponsored by Paramount for the movie Shrek the Halls Giveaway ends December 8, 2010

Watoto Childrens Choir

these young people came to visit our church this week they are the Watoto Childrens Choir and all of them are orphans whose parents have either died of AIDS or because of war. If they ever come to your area they are totally worth going and seeing they are truely totally talented

Rizzo Tees Black Friday & Cyber Monday Coupon COde

Save money on those super cool Rizzo Tees by using the coupon code  BaconTurkey. This code will save you 29% off the cost of my tees, starting on Friday and expiring at the end of the day on Tuesday, November 30th. That will turn a $16 tee into a $11.36 tee. Yay, it's magic!  Regarding shipping, place your order by 3pm on Friday, and it ships Friday. I will also be shipping on Saturday. Cyber Monday's orders will ship on Tuesday.

Staying organized on a Road Trip

Many of us will be going on road trips to celebrate the holiday season with those that we love. Road trips can become very disorganized at time which can lead to moments of panic as well as frustration when something is misplaced. Staying organized is very helpful while on road trips here are some tips you may consider using:

• Prepare for the road trip by stocking the trunk with two or three boxes for holding snacks, and other items needed on the trip. 
• Sanitizing wipes and paper towels are two very useful items that should be placed in the car before the road trip. They are great for wiping up spills, sticky hands or dirty hands, wipe the inside of the car window when a dirty spot is noticed, and also use them for napkins
• Grocery Bags are also great items to have along on road trips. They are the perfect size for keeping trash in when snacking along the road. These bags can easily be tossed out at pit stops, rest stops, or hotels
• Baggies are perfect for snacking. It allows you to split up bigger more economical bags of snack chips, crackers, etc... place in baggies that reseal so that you will have snack ready if hunger hits along the trip Another fun thing you could do is to use the sandwich lunch punch to create fun snack before going on the trip and then surprising the eaters along the way.
• Another great product that I reviewed a little while back that has worked perfectly for my granddaughter has been the The Snack and Play Travel Tray from Star Kids It was great for her to use while playing or snacking. As she gets older it will become more and more useful while writing and coloring while on road trips.
• If you will be taking children along on the road trip and making any stops along the way at busy places then you may want to take Safety Tats along with you as well. These are great items that provide safety in the case that your child would get lost

I hope these tips help you out. If you have any that you would love to share I would love to hear about them.

Mom Rocks The Holiday Giveaway information

Cat at the blog 3 Kids and Us is hosting a giveaway where there will be a total of 5 winners. Each of the winners will get the following prize pack:

Here is a bit more information concerning the giveaway:

Rayovac wants to power your holidays with fun new contest. To enter, just visit the Mom Rocks the Holidays with Rayovac contest tab on Facebook, like them and tell them how you or your mom makes the holidays rock for a chance to win the Grand Prize of $1,000 cash! There will be 3 Grand Prize winners and 20 Runner Up winners will take home a Paper Jamz guitar, amp, drum kit, guitar strap, and two Rayovac Alkaline AAA 24 packs of batteries.




Also, be sure to visit 3 Kids and Us mom blog where you can win 1 of 5 Mom Rocks the Holiday prize packs that include a $50 Visa Gift Card, Pper Jamz guitar and Rayovac Alkaline AAA 24 pack of batteries.



Disclosure – Followers who promote the Rayovac Mom Rocks the Holidays Sweepstakes may receive gifts from Rayovac.

Giveaway ends 11/29/2010

Great Deal on Disney Princess'

Is your little Princess into Disney princess' then you may be interested in this deal that I found on the "deal"ectible Mommies blog.

You can get the Disney Princess Ultimate Doll Collection right now for just $27.99 at Target! This set includes all 7 of the Disney Princesses! This is an in-store ONLY deal, so you’ll need to head over to your local Target to snag this deal! Target has the set on sale this week for just $54.99. You’ll need to head over to Target’s coupon page and print the coupon good for 50% off select Disney Princess items. This coupon is under the “Sporting goods and toys” section on the coupon page! It should let you print 2 (expires on 11/24). Then head over to your local Target and grab one or two before their gone

Thought You Might Want to Know

Thought you might want to know that HoodieBuddie is having a special 50% off sale on cybermonda

Old Fashioned Stuffing

2 celery ribs, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
2 teaspoons rubbed sage
2 teaspoons dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 cups cubed day-old white bread
6 cups cubed day-old whole wheat bread
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Progresso ® Chicken Broth

In a large skillet, saute the celery, onion and mushrooms in butter until tender. Stir in the seasonings. Place bread cubes in a large bowl. Add vegetable mixture and toss to coat. Stir in broth. Transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker coated with cooking spray. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until heated through. Yield: 8 servings.

Pillow Pets Ms. Ladybug review and giveaway

The world of Pillow Pets that cuddly friend that is both a pillow and a pet is complete of several different members. One of the members of the family is Ms. Ladybug.

Some stats about Ms. Ladybug

• she flies around North America whenever she is not on a fun adventure around the world 
• her best friends are Krissy Koala and Zippity Zebra
• She feast on raisins and pesky bugs called aphids that ruin beautiful flowers, roses
• Her favorite thing is her travel bag where she keeps maps, journals, pencils all the time so whenever she wants to go on a journey she grabs her bag and off she goes. 
• Her favorite color is red the same color that she is
• Favorite thing to do is adventure and try new things she is willitng to try anything and go anywhere because she loves to explore the world around her
• Her friend Krissy Koala thinks that Ms. Ladybug is "super fun, that she is always ready to experience something new, and that she is a leader in the group of friends and often is the one that  gathers friends up to go on a new adventure.”
• Her friend Zippity Zebra thinks that Ms. Ladybug is "a little sassy like herself but also super sweet." She loves Ms. Ladybug because she makes the most of every day, of every experience and of every person she meets.

One friend that children can often count on is a stuffed animal. The reason is because they can be told anything and no one will know the secrets that they share. A pillow pet has that sweet companionship with a pillow built in. With the security of a best friend and the functionality of a pillow the pillow pet makes the perfect companion. The softness of the pillow will make it great to take along to grandmas, on road trips or anywhere that you need a pillow and a friend. The pillow pet easily transforms into a pillow with the fastening of a belt.

Pillow Pets make perfect Christmas gifts. Whether you choose Ms. Ladybug or another one of the great pillow pets they are sure to please. Children, adults, toddlers, grandparents, or anyone on your list would be surprised and delighted to receive a pillow pet.

Buy: you can purchase pillow pets from their website http://mypillowpets.com/ 

We were able to review the Ms. Ladybug and My Pillow Pets would love to give one Ms. Ladybug PillowPet to one of my lucky readers To enter this giveaway visit the Pillow Pets website and let me know what other pillow pet you like.

Extra entries (after the mandatory entry)

• follow my blog
• like  Pillow Pets on twitter (2 entries)
• follow Pillow Pets on facebook (2 entries)
• who would be the owner of the pillow pet if you would happen to win would you keep it or gift it
• follow my blog on twitter (2 entries)
• share on your blog, facebook, or other giveaway site about this giveaway (leave link in comment 5 entries)
• enter any of my other giveaways (2 entries each)
• comment on any non giveaway post (3 entries each)

Giveaway starts now and ends December 10, 2010. Good Luck. Entries without email or email in blog profile will not be count

As I stated in this post we received the Ms. Ladybug for review purposes. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog are those of mine alone.

Express Yourself with this giveaway

Do you have a place in your house that you love and you would love to express this to everyone? What about a room needing a bit of spiffying up? Well whatever it is that you may be wanting to say you can get the job done with Personal Expressions custom home decorating from Right on the Walls. You have the chance to win a $40 gift certificate from Right on the Walls by entering a giveaway sponsored by the blog Piece of Me. The giveaway ends December 6 , 2010

Fresh Herb Butters for Corn On Cob

1/2 cup(s) (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened


4 teaspoon(s) chopped parsley

4 teaspoon(s) chopped basil

4 teaspoon(s) chopped oregano

1/4 teaspoon(s) salt

1 teaspoon(s) lemon zest

Place the butter, herbs, salt, and lemon zest in a bowl and mix together. Transfer to a piece of waxed or parchment paper and roll into a log or place in a small bowl and refrigerate until firm. Slice and serve with warm, cooked corn on the cob. N
Note: Here are a couple rules of thumb for making flavored butters: Be careful not to add too much of one ingredient; flavors will intensify as the butter chills. Refrigerate for up to two days or freeze for a couple weeks.



2.Try these alternative flavors:

Jalapeño butter: Substitute 2 teaspoons chopped roasted jalapeño peppers for the herbs and 1/8 teaspoon fresh-ground pepper for the lemon zest.



Minted butter: Substitute 4 tablespoons chopped mint for the herbs and 2 teaspoons lime zest for the lemon zes

recipe source: Country Living

Turkey Frame Soup

Here is a great recipe that you may want to try with the leftovers you have for Thanksgiving.

1 meaty turkey frame


4 cups water

4 cups turkey or chicken broth

1 large onion, quartered

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 tsp. salt

Chopped cooked turkey

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, cut into thin strips

1-1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

3 cups sliced or cubed vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, or turnips

1-1/2 cups high-fiber or whole wheat pasta, such as rotini or penne

1 15-oz. can Great Northern beans or white kidney beans, rinsed and drained

Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Break turkey frame or cut in half with kitchen shears. Place in large pot. Add water, broth, onion, garlic, and salt. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours. Remove turkey frame. Cool; cut meat off bones; coarsely chop meat. Add enough turkey to equal 2 cups. Set aside. Discard bones. Strain broth; skim off fat. Return broth to pot. Stir in tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Stir in vegetables. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer for 5 minutes. Add pasta. Simmer, uncovered, for 8 to 10 minutes or until pasta is tender and still firm and vegetables are tender. Stir in turkey and beans; heat through. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese
 
Sharing on Healthy Home Economist

Thanksgiving Turkey Place Cards

I am bringing back this great Thanksgiving Craft because I loved it so much Here is yet another super cute way to make Thanksgiving place cards. These are super cute and very easy to make. I was able to find this adorable craft on the Family Fun website 2009 and I am sharing it on the Red Ted Art Kids Get Crafty


Using a simple ink pad, markers and a blank note card you can make these adorable Turkey place cards.



Press a thumb into the inkpad and then on paper to print a turkey's body. Use the same technique with fingertips to create a head and feathers. Use markers to add a beak, wattle and feet. Complete the cards by writing in guests' names.

Tips for Making Pie

Holidays are coming with Thanksgiving for those in the U.S. and following up Christmas season. Many of us who like to cook and bake will find our selves in the kitchen and helping out. Our kitchen is normally always full. There are many of us who love to be involved in the kitchen. My grandmother could make delicious pies oh they were so good. I remember them being so delicious with a flaky crust. I am not as good as she is but I can make a wicked good pie at least thats what I have been told. Here are some tips that you may want to use when you are baking pies as well.

• Dress up your apple pie with butter pecan ice cream or top with caramel. Makes that old fashioned flavor.
• Another great idea when preparing your apple pie is to replace 1/4 c of regular sugar with brown sugar. 
• This is a new tip to me lime juice works better than lemon juice to prevent fruits from turning brown
• Microwave pie filling for 5 to 7 minutes before pouring into the crust. This prevents the crust from becoming overly brown before th filling is completly cooked. 
• if your pie is runny add 1 T. tapioca to filling
• To make a caramel like flavor in your pecan pie melt the butter in a saucepan til it turns golden bronw.
• Spice up a homemade graham cracker crust by adding a little cinnamon to the mix. 

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friday favorites

GuideCraft are the creators of fine educational toys and furniture. Every person, family and child has their own personality. Guidecraft has so many products and styles that I am sure they will have the perfect products to fit your personality.

This cute Guidecraft Animal Train Sort and Match Set would be so super fun for any little one to pay with. Right now the blog Kindred Spirit Mommy blog is hosting a giveaway where the winner will win a set just like this. The giveaway ends December 9, 2010 

Win this cute toy set for little hands

I remember the old hammer and nail playset when I awas child but this super cute Design & Drill set from Educational Insights would provide hours of fun and loads of learning experiences. Perfect for both girls and boys this busy set would help with hand eye cordination, color recognization as well as many other skills. The best part is that you can enter to win this super cute set because the blog Mommyspr.com is hosting this giveaway on their blog. The giveaway ends December 3, 2010

Win This Cute Book

I just enteredt to try to win this book. I can remember when colds and illness would keep our friends at home away from school. I just love how this book uses the term bug in a real way I can only imagine how fun it  will be to read it. To enter for a chance to win go to Brimful Curiosities and enter before November 22, 2010  

Win a Ride On Toy

Can you imagine the fun that your little one would have with a New Beginnings ride on toy? I am not for sure who would have more fun them or me. The delight of watching little ones have fun is worth gold to me. The blog girl gone mom is hosting a giveaway where one lucky winner will receive one of these super cute ride on toys. You can enter this giveaway on her blog but you must do so before November 25, 2010.

Cloud B giveaway

I love Cloud B and their great products. My grand-daughter had the Polar Cuddly Cub and she loved it as it soothed her to sleep as a baby. Now with my daughter expecting another baby this time a baby boy this Cloud B. Turtle would be charming for him and his room. The blog Girl Gone Mom is hosting a giveaway for this charming Cloud B. Turtle You can enter for your chance to win as well but you must do it by December 8, 2010.

Entered a few more giveaways

 I entered a few giveaways over at Jamie's Precious Peas. Among those that I entered was one for a super cute Christmas tutu outfit from Teddy's Tiny Tutus. I would love to see one of these on my grand-daughter or my niece. They are so cute. If you want the chance to win one you must visit and enter the giveaway prior to December 6, 2010.

Progresso Lemon Pepper Bread Crumbs review and giveaway

My family has grown to love the Progresso brand products so much that Progresso is a household name Used to prepare many different meals from meatloaf to frying with to even the wonderful line of soups Progress has a wonderful line up of products. . Last month in October saw a new product be added to the Progresso line of products. The new product was Lemon Pepper Panko which offers a delightful kick to recipes.The large, flaky crumb has a coarser texture than traditional bread crumbs, delivering a lighter, crunchier coating or topping. The New Lemon Pepper Panko will allow the every day household kitchen cook to prepare food using a sweeter more natural flavor to please their crowd of eaters.

A chef known for his for his emphasis on creating delicious dishes with fresh, premium ingredients, Chef Michael Chiarello uses panko as his go-to bread crumb for a crunch that won’t quit. An Emmy-award winning TV chef and cookbook author, Chef Chiarello is the tastemaker behind Bottega Napa Valley Restaurant, NapaStyle and Chiarello Family Vineyards, and appears on The Cooking Channel and Top Chef Masters only on Bravo.

progresso and Chef Michael Chiarello are teaming up to to make flavorful, flawless recipes including Crispy Seafood Salad and  Mama Chiarello's Stuffed Eggplant To get busy making delicious recipes using the Lemon Pepper Planko you can visit the Progresso website where you can watch a video that offers tips to use the new Lemon Pepper Planko as well as get a printable coupon for $1/1 box of any planko flavor In addition while you are there check out the Progresso's Wine & Dine with Chef Michael Chiarello Sweepstakes where through December 31st you will have a chance to win a trip for two to Napa Valley to attend the Spring Bud Break Party on May 7, 2011. The winner will receive a set of tickets to the party, round trip airfare and hotel accommodations. Full rules and entry form can be found at  www.progressobroth.com for the sweepstakes rules and entry form.

We were able to review the new Lemon Pepper planko breadcrumbs as well as the cookbook by Michael Chiarello We found the recipe we made to be delicious and fresh tasting. Now one of Annies Home Readers will be able to win a copy of this great cookbook and a box of the Lemon Pepper Planko by Progresso.

To enter this giveaway you must share with me a recipe on the Progresso website that you may be interested in:

Extra Entries:

• follow my blog
• subscribe to my blog through reader or email (2 entries each)
• place my button and/or text link on your blog (5 entries for each that you do)
• follow my blog on twitter
• tweet about the giveaway (1 entry per tweet may tweet up to 4 times a day)
• share this giveaway on your blog, another giveaway site, facebook etc... (5 entries each let me know what you do)
• enter the ozone socks giveaway, kidorable umbrella giveaway (3 entries each)
• comment on any non giveaway post (2 entries each)

Giveaway starts now and ends December 1, 2010 Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entries will not be accepted.

we received a cookbook and a box of the Progresso Lemon Pepper Planko breadcrumb for review purposes. The thoughts shared are opinions expressed in this post are simply that opinions and others may or may not agree with it