Maneuvering Life and Motherhood with Twins Plus One
Someone used their magical powers to freeze dry these apples and turn them from regular, ordinary apples to special, take with you anywhere, eat anytime apples! Ready for building a snowman, playing dress up, or building your very own ice castle, the Brothers All Natural Frozen Fruit Crisps are the perfect snack for the princess on the move! Continue reading “Brothers Fruit Crisps”
Products that work well, are all natural and give back are a win win. CREO Originals NEW Kickstarter Campaign enables people to own and enjoy beautiful fine art daily, while at the same time connecting with the artist who created the art, just by buying products they already use. Continue reading “CREO Originals Beauty Giveaway”
Are you one of those ladies that love to peruse makeup? Look at all the beautiful colors and makeover options and adore the palettes and hues? I know I am one of them. Makeup is scary to me because I have been told I should wear certain hues and colors and shades and when I wear them and wear the suggested application I end up looking a bit like Tammy Faye Baker. Lipstick is especially scary for me because I would hate to look like a clown. Or worse, I have a horrible reaction because I have uber sensitive skin. Couple all these factors with the brutality of the Arizona climate, especially in summer, the whole bit reeks of disaster. Until I was introduced to Mineral Fusion which is a mineral cosmetics brand that creates beautiful colors and hues to accent and enhance any woman’s beauty and is completely vegan. Continue reading “Making Beauty Healthy – Mineral Fusion”
Welcome to the Eat In Challenge Sponsored by
BACON! Meat candy and secret addition to any awesome dessert, adding a bit extra salt and a smokey flavor that is sure to be pure decadence. Put your meat candy to work with bacon grease instead of shortening. You can spice up the flavor an extra notch with bacon grease. I have done three dessert treats with bacon grease and they were to die for. Here is my gluten free, Boston Cream Pie cupcake recipe that is sure to be a hit!
Light Yellow Cake:
3/4 c. cooled, solid bacon grease
2T. butter (for a less rich cake, increase the butter and decrease the bacon grease)
1 7/8 c. sugar
2 large eggs
2 3/4 c. flour (I love my Pamela’s gluten free)
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/4 c. milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Cream filling:
2 c. milk
5 T. cornstarch
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp. fresh vanilla bean
Chocolate Ganache frosting:
1 package chocolate chips
1 c heavy cream
1 tsp brandy
So Summer is here and we as moms need to figure out what to do with the kids. With Summers comes BBQs, potlucks, and other great events and many times we need to bring a dessert. Let the Love Cooking Company help with their Mrs. Fields Bake N Stuff Cupcake Pan. This pan lets you create one of a kind cupcakes that will be remembered for years to come.
Cupcakes are the perfect single serve sizes. Create a masterpiece cupcake with candy inside! The unique two-part Mrs. Fields’ Bake N Stuff Cupcake Pan allows you to make hollow cupcakes that you can fill with your favorite small candies! Simply pour in the batter, lock down the lid and bake. When they’re done, you’ll have the tops and bottoms for six 3-inch cupcakes. Then just fill and decorate, and get ready for some fun!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: The bloggers participating in this event have NOT been compensated for this post. Networking Perks provides honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. Networking Perks is not responsible for prize fulfillment; The Love Cooking Company will be responsible for prize fulfillment. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media. If you have any questions or would like help in promoting your own product please contact Karie@TheFiveFish.com or Joie@NetworkingPerks.com. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Best of all is our giveaway this month. We are giving away THREE (3) copies of “What The Fork Are You Eating: An Action Plan for Your Pantry and Plate” where the author debunks food myths and misconceptions. Stephanie Sacks is a certified dietary nutritionist, dietician, who breaks down the best way to shop and eat foods. Her personal struggle with food allergies and conditions and extensive knowledge makes her rich in the topic. The book shares 50 mouth watering recipes that help you clean up your pantry and save time and money as well!
If you haven’t signed up yet this month please do so! Otherwise please enjoy our giveaway and the great recipes from our fellow bloggers for our February Eat In Challenge.
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Disclaimer: Participating blogs were not compensated for this event, may contain affiliate links. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsor will be responsible for product shipment to winner of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. Contactus@networkingperks.com if you have any additional questions or comments.
If you are like others who started off the new year feeling not yourself or your health is less than favorable, your initial thought might be to start exercising, eating better, and then maybe visit your doctor. Did you know that most physicians who advise to eat a healthy diet and exercise cannot even tell you what a healthy diet looks like? That’s right! In fact, 99 of the 106 medical schools polled in a survey indicated they only required some form of education (conference, seminar, etc), but do not require a formal university course study. So what the fork are you eating and what the fork can your doctor really tell you about your diet when they don’t even know? Stephanie Sacks, author, certified nutritionist and chef, can help you overhaul your plate and your pantry in her book “What the Fork Are You Eating?: An Action Plan for Your Pantry and Plate.”
This book is absolutely revolutionary in breaking down the foods we eat, why we should or should not eat, buy, or consider them as food items. We spend so much time focusing on “low-fat” or “sugar free,” with the intention of helping ourselves, but all we are doing is pumping more artificial additives into our bodies that we simply cannot process.
By no means am I a dietary professional, scientist or physician, however, I am a consumer and person who struggled with the reality of food and how it wreaked havoc on my life. My weight suffered, my skin as I had horrible acne, fatigue, and my own personal struggle and triumph with cervical cancer. Converting to a whole foods, organic diet allowed me to take control of all these ailments and help me live a better life with more energy and radiance.
“What the Fork Are You Eating” will help you understand how foods are made, how they affect your body, our environment, and your budget. A step-by-step guide to the small changes that have a big impact on our family health and the financial health of our budgets. Not only will you learn about how, or how little, our food is regulated, but this book is packed with wholesome, affordable recipes that your entire family is sure to love.
If you are ready to read the most powerful, life changing book of the year, then enter to win your very own copy of “What the Fork Are You Eating: An Action Plan for Your Pantry and Plate”
Disclaimer: No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsor will be responsible for product shipment to winner of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. Contact karie@thefivefish.com if you have any additional questions or comments.
January is the month of new challenges, goals, adventures and reboots with our lives. The Five Fish is happy to announce the launch of Networking Perks and their blogger program. With that being said, we are promoting their launch by sharing a great dinner recipe as part of the #EatInChallenge to encourage healthier meals, family time and money savings. Below are the details of the giveaway as well as a wonderful crock pot roast beef dinner recipe to share in your home.
Networking Perks is challenging more families to eat at home with the Eat At Home Challenge. Sitting down and eating together as a family is important; we take this time to disconnect from all the daily noise, technology, and social media, while reconnecting as a family. Meal time is also important that we provide delicious and nutritious meals to eat. Finding the balance between work, day-to-day activities, and meal planning isn’t easy, which is why we at Networking Perks want to start 2015 with the Eat At Home Challenge.
Enter to WIN a $25 Amazon Gift Card while at the same time building your recipe archive with delicious meals. Make 2015 the year of the family. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Winter is in full swing and temps are only dropping further into January. We reach for comfort foods
that are warm, soothing and in some cases are not the best for us health wise. Cold weather does not have to be the bane of our waistlines, this dinner recipe is sure to be a hit and guarantee leftovers for days. Think warm sandwiches.
Roast beef is one of my favorite dishes as it is so tasty and versatile for a variety of meal options. Beef is also easy to prepare and packed with protein and low in fat if chosen under the proper cut. I made this roast in the crock pot and it was divine! Your ingredients are even easier.
Preparation of the meat is what really makes this dish. Pat dry the roast and then season with salt and pepper and let sit for about 30 minutes to reach room temperature. This allows the blood to settle into the meat and keeps the roast extra juicy.
If your roast still has the fat attached, score it. Criss-cross score the fatty side to ensure that the fat is browned and can maintain the tenderness and taste of the meat.
Heat a pan on medium heat with oil and brown each side, focusing on the fatty side. Once the meat is browned place into your crock pot. Sprinkle the gravy mixture over the meat. Pour the entire contents of the tomatoes can into the crock pot over the meat. Add in the vegetables minus the potatoes, cover and allow to cook for 3-4 hours on high heat, reduce heat the last two hours and add potatoes.
Serve with bread and butter for that true comfort food feeling. Leftovers for days, make a wonderful roast beef sandwich, get creative!
We served our roast beef accompanied with mashed cauliflower and sided with fresh baby spinach. Enjoy! Please be sure to enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift card.
Are you looking to incorporate more veggies into your diet with a new year? Here is a great starter recipe for you meat lovers that are on the fence about changing up your diet with more veggies. Vegetables do not have to be boring, tasteless, and dirt like. My husband had this same vision of vegetables, he was an anti-veg type of guy due to the horrific experience he had as a child. Sharing the terror of how his mother would cook vegetables to the point where they could be transformed to baby puree. Gross. Lifeless. Tasteless. Uninspiring. Damaging.
Overcooking vegetables results in the overall loss of nutrition content and pointless to eat other than pure aesthetics to your plate.
New Years goals and resolutions are a great way to get started taking control of your health and diet. Our waistlines are controlled by 80% of what we put into them and 20% what we do to them (proper sleep, exercise, stress, etc). My family was the family that had basic vegetables in the house: green beans, broccoli, carrots, corn. Super exciting. One day I made the radical decision to cut the crap. In that same breath of a decision I also decided to join a CSA which is a food coop with local farmers. By joining the CSA we began to transform the way we ate and how we ate food. Eating seasonal foods, foods that we had never tried before, vegetables that looked and sounded less than tempting to eat.
As we began to transform the way we ate, we wanted to know if we could still accomplish a “meat” type vegetable. A former employee of mine was a vegetarian and reformed meat eater. His diet helped to evolve my own foods and my family. One of our favorite dishes contains no meat products at all and is the most easy and flavorful meals I enjoy making.
Portabello Burger
One of the most delectable fungi I have had the pleasure to cook with. Meaty and universal to pretty much anything you want to cook. Mild in flavor and truly a hearty addition to any dish. Portabello mushrooms can be purchased pre-packaged (which are more expensive) or you can purchase them loose and by the pound which run about $3.99 per pound.
I have grilled, sauteed, and eaten these babies raw, they are magnificent. Not as much as they are when made into a burger. Here is how you can have an all veggie burger without sacrificing taste or texture (serves 2):
1 zucchini, sliced length wise into 1/4 inch sticks
1 Portabello Mushroom, sliced length wise into thin slices, not too thin
1/4 red onion sliced
1 red bell pepper (you can add any other bell pepper but the red tastes best)
1 TBSP coconut oil
1/4 avocado, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
Favorite bread item – This dish is EXCELLENT on ciabatta, we have had on Dave’s Killer Organic and English muffins. Also amazing on a salad.
Warm the pan over a medium heat and allow coconut oil to melt, toss in the onions and mushrooms first as they will soak up most of your oil. Cook for 2 minutes before adding in remaining veggies. Toss in pan to equally cook and coat. I like to use a lid to hold in the moisture and create a great browning and crunch to the zucchini. Be careful not to overcook, this is a saute type dish, cook the mushrooms and onions enough to be soft without being mushy.
While the vegetable medley is still warm serve atop your bread of choice with sliced avocado and cheese if you so desire. Provolone is excellent as is Swiss or a smoked gouda.
If you are feeling exceptionally edgy with your vegetables add in some thinly sliced eggplant for a truly mind blowing meaty flavor and taste to your vegetable medley burger. Eggplant is a savory, delicate veggie with a robust amount of meat.
Embrace your inner vegetarian. Even though you are a meat lover does not mean you cannot have a love affair with veggies. Vegetables do not have to be dull, lifeless and boring. Moreover veggies are not all about salads. You can create amazing smoothies, sides and full meals with the right veggies. Find some great meal ideas in our recipe section and spice up your meal ideas this year.
Herman Pine, of Pine Bros. sold his first batch of what he called ‘Pine Brothers Glycerin Tablets.’ In an attempt to relieve his own sore throat. Mr. Pine, a former German confectionery maker, combined the soothing natural qualities of plant glycerin with the healing properties of gum acacia into one softish drop. By doing so, he discovered that he had created a product that could sooth and mitigate the mild discomfort of a sore throat. Add in some natural flavoring and sweetener and Pine Brothers Softish Throat Drops were born.
They come in bags or in pucks. The pucks are great for keeping in your purse or glove box. All of the softish throat drops are gluten free and only 5 calories per drop.
Disclaimer: Participating Blogs were not compensated for this post. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsor will be responsible for product shipment to winner of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. Contact winterwitch@networkingwitches.com if you have any additional questions or comments.
Enjoy some of our favorite holiday recipes! Pumpkin is always a favorite for fall and winter dishes as the gourd is always in season during the cooler months. Here is our organic pumpkin pie recipe with a fresh Fairytale style pumpkin from our CSA. Another Holiday favorite is the Swiss roll. This delicious cake treat is remiss of the Little Betty Swiss Miss rolls with a creamy whipped filling, topped with a chocolate ganache coating. The cake may be a bit bitter as it is a Turkish chocolate delight, but still sweet and delish!
Pumpkin Pie
1 pumpkin
6 c. water for boiling
2 c. flour (for crust, obviously)
1/2 c. water (for crust)
1 c. shortening
Heat oven to 425*
1 3/4 c. mashed pumpkin
1 3/4 c. milk
2 large eggs
2/3 c. brown sugar
2 T. sugar
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves (be sure to ONLY use a 1/4 tsp or your pie will be very SPICY and the cloves will be overbearing)
Gut the pumpkin and all seeds. Cut into two inch cubes leaving skin on the meat during boiling. The boil time for an average size to a small pumpkin is roughly 25-35 minutes. Remove from water and allow to cool somewhat before removing skin to avoid burning. Once all skin is removed, mash or puree until desired consistency. Allow the mashed pumpkin to be completely cool before adding to pie mixture.
While pumpkin is cooling, mix flour, water, shortening together until dough forms. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Add to pie pan and flute edges. Fluting can be done with fingers, fork, or a spoon.
Mix together sugar and eggs until a creamed consistency, adding in mashed pumpkin. Mix thoroughly slowly adding milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and the cloves. By following these steps your pie will have a smooth consistency allowing all the ingredients to blend well together. Cook for 45-55 minutes using a toothpick to determine if the center is done. The pie will have a rich golden hue as will the crust.
Swiss Cake Roll
Preheat oven to 400*
2 eggs (separate yolks from whites)
3 T. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 T. warm water (I used day old warm coffee, adds a bitterness and a wonderful rich sweet taste)
1 oz cube of melted Bakers Semi-Sweet baking chocolate (or 2T melted chocolate chips)
Filling:
1 c. heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 T. confectioners sugar (or 1/4 c. sugar)
May add fresh fruit or flavor or your choice, almond, etc.
I also apologize for the poor picture quality….the cake was being eaten so fast to take when it was at it’s “prettiest.”
Beat together egg yolks and sugar until creamy, slowly adding the chocolate (be sure not too hot or will cook the eggs) and warm water. Then beat until foamy the egg whites, slowly adding in the flour, baking powder mix. Once the eggs and flour, baking powder are completely combined, slowly begin to add in the chocolate mixture. Once completely blended pour into waxed lined baking pan (13X9, buttered or greased then lined with wax paper or freezer paper for best results and lightly greased again). Bake for 12 minutes, remove immediately and place face down on freezer paper (or wax paper) dusted with powdered sugar. Place damp cloth on top to ease cooling time and allow cake to be easily rolled while warm, removing hard or rough edges, unroll after completely cooled and add cream filling.
Beat together sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream until a creamy, comes to a bit of a peak consistency. Do not over beat…filling will be ruined. Slowly spread along inside of cake, roll again and serve dusted with confectioners sugar or topped with drizzled chocolate or fresh fruit.
Enjoy!