Tag: Recipes

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52 Weeks to Toxin Free DIY Softscrub or Ajax

DIY kitchen cleaner, DIY cleaner with borax, DIY cleaner essential oils, DIY soft scrub essential oils, non-toxic household cleaner

My kitchen is the most coveted room in the house next to my bedroom. Cleaning with a toxin free cleaner was challenging, so I wanted to share my DIY Softscrub AJjax type cleaner recipe. Have you ever watched chefs and the staff clean a five star restaurant? Yes that is what happens in my kitchen; every surface is scrubbed down, every corner covered by scrubbing and cleaning and the use of hot water and a proper disinfecting cleanser. Literally you could eat off the counters and floors since I am so meticulous about crumbs, dirt, and grime in my kitchen. However I struggled with the use of commercial and toxic cleansers like bleach, softscrub, 409, you name it I used these products in my kitchen and even my bathrooms. The fumes soon became overwhelming after introducing essential oils into my home. So I thought about how my grandmothers would clean their kitchen, their homes. As part of our 52 weeks to toxin free, here is week one and how I began researching a DIY Softscrub or Ajax type of cleanser that was heavy duty but without the toxicity. Continue reading “52 Weeks to Toxin Free DIY Softscrub or Ajax”

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Cheeseball Recipe

midwest cheeseball, cheeseball, hors d’oeuvres

Holidays and entertaining are always a stressful time. Keeping visitors and guests at bay for the chef, or cook, of the house is the goal until the meal is ready to be served. Feeding them plenty of hors d’oeuvres and snacks helps divert traffic from your kitchen and allows for wonderful entertaining and mingling. One of my cheesiest and favorite snack items for Thanksgiving and Christmas is a proper cheeseball. Continue reading “Cheeseball Recipe”

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Cooking with Oil & Vinegar

oil & vinegar, chandler fashion square, arizona oil & vinegar, spices

Food is my passion. Cooking and food fall in line somewhere behind my love of God, my kids, my husband…you know it is somewhere behind them. So I am always trying new spices, new flavors, new ways to cook and share my love of all things food and culinary with my family. I am also never afraid to experiment with flavors and foods, my family gives tons of grace in that respect. In addition to all of these things, I love to find products that are unique, responsibly sourced and fun. Continue reading “Cooking with Oil & Vinegar”

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Easy Guacamole Recipe

guacamole recipe, guacamole, avocados

The other day while perusing Facebook a friend of mine had shared a great video for an awesome recipe for guacamole. An easy and awesome recipe for guacamole, literally five ingredients or less. I could not resist having this recipe, making said recipe and sharing with my family. Then exploiting the awesomeness with each of you. I digress. This recipe was like no other and looked exceptionally tasty and did not require roasting hot peppers and hours or dicing and mashing. Continue reading “Easy Guacamole Recipe”

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Boston Creme Pie Cupcake Recipe & Giveaway

Welcome to the Eat In Challenge Sponsored by

Networking Perks & The Love Cooking Company

Co Hosts

The Five Fish

&

Networking Witches

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!

boston cream pie, cupcakesLight 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

  • Beat eggs and sugar until blended, add in butter and bacon grease and beat until fluffy. Sift together baking powder and flour. Slowly fold in flour mixture while alternating adding milk and vanilla. Beat until well blended.
  • Pour into lined cupcake tins and bake for 18-25 mins at 350 degrees.

Cream filling:
2 c. milk
5 T. cornstarch
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp. fresh vanilla bean

  • Place cornstarch in sauce pan, add sugar and slowly fold in milk while stirring with whisk. Cook over medium heat, slowly add in vanilla and continue cooking until mixture is very thick. Remove from heat and allow to cool entirely.
  • Once mixture is completely cooled, place into frosting bag with narrow coupler.

Chocolate Ganache frosting:
1 package chocolate chips
1 c heavy cream
1 tsp brandy

  • In medium sauce pan heat chips and brandy slowly adding cream, stirring constantly until mixture is smooth and glossy. Remove from heat, allow to cool before frosting cake.
  1. Once your cupcakes, frosting, and pudding are cool you can begin the layers of goodness. Using your frosting bag and narrow coupler, insert the coupler into the middle of the cupcake and fill until you see the pudding rising out of the top of where the coupler is inserted. Or with the Mrs Fields pan, you can easily add the pudding without the hassle of the frosting bag.
  2. Do this for each cupcake until all pudding is used and or all cupcakes are filled to desired fullness.
  3. Place cupcakes on cooling rack and place foil underneath cooling rack. Begin to slowly drizzle frosting over the tops of cupcakes ensuring that frosting is not too hot or too cold. Each cupcake will be glossy. Allow the layer of frosting to cool before adding more. If the frosting in pan becomes hard, reheat on medium heat until desired consistency and start process of frosting again. Do this until all cupcakes are covered and frosting is completely used.
  4. Set cupcakes aside in fridge to allow frosting to harden overnight.
  5. Serve with milk and enjoy.

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!

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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.

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February Eat In Challenge

What the Fork are you eating, Eat In ChallengeBest 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.

​​

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

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Spark People Gorton’s Realistic Resolution Challenge Giveaway

gortons, gortons seafood

Gorton’s Seafood is working hard to help start the New Year off right with their Realistic Resolution. With this Resolution it’s a win win situation. You can eat healthier and enjoy Gorton’s Seafood recipes. To kick off the Realistic Resolution they are providing a giveaway on lucky winner with:
2 full-value product coupons, an insulated tote, the SparkPeople cookbook, the Spark book and the SparkPeople Boot Camp DVD

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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. Gorton’s Seafood 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.

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#EatInChallenge Crock Pot Roast Beef Dinner Recipe & Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

TheFiveFish.com, roast beef recipe

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 foodsroast beef, thefivefish.com, #eatinchallenge 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.

  • Top Sirloin Roast (preferred cut with fat still in tact if possible) otherwise a Chuck Roast will do
  • 1 can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, diced
  • 3 TBSP gravy mix
  • 3 celery stalks, chopped
  • 3 rainbow carrots, chopped
  • 5 red potatoes, quartered
  • 1 TBSP olive oil
  • No salt seasoning
  • Salt and pepper

TheFiveFish.com, roast beef recipePreparation 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.

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$25 Amazon GC Giveaway Eat At Home Challenge #EatInChallenge

January-Eat-In-Challenge-877x1024Networking Perks is seeking bloggers to join 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.

We are looking for bloggers to sign up for a January Eat At Home Challenge – Blog Hop; if successful, this event will be repeated monthly. Here’s how it will work:

Each blogger will provide their own recipe for a meal (any meal) or dessert along with their own, original photo. From there we will supply you with the post, linky for the hop and HTML for the giveaway. You got it! A giveaway! We will be providing a $25 Amazon Gift Card for Giveaway.

This is a FREE Event with a single Twitter link. If you would like additional links included in the giveaway and event, they are available for a fee (purchase).

Sign Up Here! http://bit.ly/1zNTmAy

Dates: 01/05/15 to 01/31/15

Open: USA/Canada excluding Quebec

Must provide a recipe to Mr. Linky with original photo for participation and post on time. Must promote a minimum of 3x weekly using #EatInChallenge hashtag.

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Make Your Own Peanut Butter with Blendtec

Since our society has become all about convenience and fast food many of us have strayed from making our own goods. Needless to say a good portion of time goes into making and manufacturing our own foods and food items. However, something can be said for homemade without all the added chemicals, preservatives and sugar. One of our favorite appliances to use is our Blendtec blender; fabulous for smoothies, salsas, and I even made a cake in this little machine. So I wanted to make something a bit extra special this year in my blender, I fancied making my own peanut butter with my Blendtec. Continue reading “Make Your Own Peanut Butter with Blendtec”