Recipe: Rachael Ray’s Greek Grilled Chicken & Vegetable Salad with Pita Bread
Recipe prepared by: Anne-Marie Nichols, Photo taken by: Anne-Marie Nichols

Have you had a chance to check out Rachael Ray’s FreshOver Recipe Guide on the Ziploc Facebook page? You can “like” the Ziploc Brand’s page and download Rachael’s exclusive FreshOver Recipe Guide. With every download, up to a maximum of 50,000 downloads, between 1/1/12 and 12/31/13, Ziploc^® Brand will make a $1 donation to the organization on the fans behalf, for up to a maximum $50,000 donation. To further support Yum-O!, Rachael Ray and Ziploc will donate an additional $200,000 during the same time period, no matter how many guides are downloaded.

I’ve been enjoying Ziploc and Rachael’s “freshed over” recipes for several reasons – they’re healthy and nutritious, easy to prepare, and delicious. I was especially excited to try the Greek Grilled Chicken & Vegetable Salad on my family. We all love Greek flavors like olives and feta. Plus, I knew the kids would love it because the chicken and salad is served in pita bread. It’s a really fun way to get your kids to eat healthy salad and vegetables. Plus, if you can find whole wheat pitas and reduced fat feta, even better!

Ziploc Brand Containers make recipe prep easy

With school and afterschool activities, sometimes we don’t get home until dinner time. While this recipe doesn’t take much time to put together once your prep is done, the prep itself is a bit extensive – lots of chopping and measuring. So I got everything ready the day before by making the dressing and chopping the vegetables and herbs, and storing them in Ziploc Brand Twist ’n Loc Containers. These containers also came in handy to bring leftovers to school and work.

You can save additional time by buying already chopped lettuce and crumbled feta cheese, instead of block feta cheese.

Recipe: Rachael Ray’s Greek Grilled Chicken & Vegetable Salad with Pita Bread Recipe prepared by: Anne-Marie Nichols, Photo taken by: Anne-Marie Nichols

Rachael Ray’s Greek Grilled Chicken & Vegetable Salad with Warm Pita Bread for Wrapping

Yield 4 servings - Level Easy

Prep 15 minutes - Cook 10 minutes

Total 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 to 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders
• Salt and pepper
• 8 pita breads
• 1 ripe lemon, zested and juiced
• 3 tablespoon red wine vinegar, eyeball it
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped oregano, 4 stems, stripped of leaves and chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
• 2 hearts Romaine lettuce, chopped
• 8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
• 2 vine ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1/3 seedless or English cucumber, diced
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley leaves, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat grill pan over high heat. Place chicken in shallow dish and season with salt and pepper.
2. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Wrap pita breads in foil. Place in warm oven and heat until dinner is served.
3. Combine lemon zest, juice and vinegar in a bowl and whisk in oil. Add oregano, garlic and whisk again to combine into dressing. Pour half the dressing over chicken tenders. Turn tenders in dressing to coat.
4. Combine remaining salad ingredients in a bowl. Pour remaining dressing over salad and toss well. The salad should be very lightly dressed. Season salad with salt and pepper and transfer to a large serving platter.
5. Grill tenders 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Transfer hot tenders to the salad lined serving platter. Remove pitas from oven and unwrap. Cut pitas in half and arrange around the edge of platter.
6. To serve, each person can pile grilled chicken and veggies into pita halves, wrap up on either side and enjoy!

Win a Ziploc Brand Prize Pack!

This prize pack includes kitchen gadgets, accessories for trips to a farmer’s market or an eating fresh gift pack with Rachael Ray’s Look + Cook cookbook, worth about $120.

How to enter to win:

1. In the comments below, tell me which recipe you want to try out from Rachael and Ziploc’s Recipe Guide.
2. Sign up for This Mama Cooks! Review’s RSS feed for ONE additional entry.
3. Sign up for my e-newsletter for ONE additional entry.
4. Spread the word about this giveaway by submitting a link to this post on Twitter for ONE additional entry. You must leave a link to your tweet in your comment so I can check.
5. Follow @amnichols on Twitter for ONE additional entry.

If you have done any of these additional activities you MUST come back here and leave a comment telling me what you did. I will be checking!

The giveaway begins on February 3, 2012 at 12:00 a.m. PST and ends on February 8, 2012 at 5 p.m. PST.

Click here for the Ziploc Giveaway Official Rules

___________________
Disclosure: I have partnered with Ziploc^® and am being compensated for my posts. However, my opinions on the product are my own.

Featured at Jennifer Cooks Fusion Friday

Rachael Ray’s Greek Grilled Chicken & Vegetable Salad with Pita Bread {Ziploc giveaway} #Ziploc #FreshOver is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

Every 45 seconds a child dies from malaria. It doesn’t have to be this way as malaria is both preventable and treatable. That’s why I’m joining Mom Bloggers for Social Good in supporting Malaria No More's Dream Big for Africa campaign.

Malaria No More’s mission is simple: to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015. The world has known how to beat this disease for more than a century, yet it remains the number one killer of children under five in sub-Saharan Africa, claiming 781,000 lives a year. Proven items like a $10 insecticide-treated bed net will protect a mother and child from the mosquito bites that transmit the disease. This means that an individual can have a direct impact in the life of someone vulnerable to malaria. All it takes is $10 to buy a bed net and save a life.

This is why Smash star Katharine McPhee has joined the fight by making Malaria No More her charity of choice in 2012 and by hosting a contest to give one supporter the chance to accompany her on a trip to Africa with Malaria No More! While there, you and Katharine will help distribute life-saving mosquito nets and malaria medication.

How to enter the Dream for Africa contest

1. Text "DREAM" to 85944 right now to make a $10 donation to Malaria No More for a chance to travel to Africa with actress Katharine McPhee*. After making a donation, you'll be directed to an online form to complete your entry.
2. Fill out this form to complete your entry. We need your information so we have a way to contact you if you're chosen as a finalist and winner.
3. Look out for an email from us. If you're chosen as a finalist and winner, we will need you to take immediate actions.

Prize

• An action-packed trip to Africa with Smash star Katharine McPhee. You may travel to up to two African countries where you'll have a chance to hang out with the star, learn about malaria, and take part in life-saving activities. This trip will occur at the end of March 2012.

Deadlines

• The contest will close on Wednesday, February 16 at 11:59pm EST.
• Semi-finalists will be notified on Friday, February 18 and asked to complete additional entry requirements by the following Friday, February 24.
• One winner will be chosen and announced on Monday, February 26.
• Trip to Africa to take place at the end of March 2012.

Click here to view the Official Campaign Rules.

* A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your pre-paid balance. Message and Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. By participating you certify that you agree to the terms and conditions and you are 18 years or older or have parental permission. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Donations are collected for the benefit of Malaria No More by the Innovative Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at igfn.org/t. Privacy Policy: igfn.org/p. Text STOP to 85944 to stop; Text HELP to 85944 for help.

Dream Big for Africa with Katharine McPhee and Malaria No More is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

I know for many of you, taking nutritional supplements was on your New Year’s healthy resolutions list. How’s it going? Are you confused by all the vitamin and supplement choices out there? Well, Centrum has come up with a Nutrition Possible Assessment to help you determine your individual nutritional supplement needs.

I’m always on the lookout for new nutritional supplements that fit my individual needs. That’s why I was excited to try out ProNutrients, Centrum’s new line of dietary supplements that are formulated to work with a multivitamin. 

The line includes Omega-3, Probiotic, and Fruit & Veggie - three supplements that support health and well-being.  Each supplement is backed by the nutritional expertise of Centrum, which identifies the right ingredients to your nutrition to the next level.

I was very happy to see that they’re offering a fruit and veggie supplement. I was taking something similar that was very expensive, so now I have a more affordable alternative. Recently, I saved even more money by using Centrum coupons from the last two weeks of Sunday newspapers and going to the ProNutrients Facebook page for a $5 off coupon. Many stores like Walgreens and Kroger have Centrum ProNutrients on sale this month, so take advantage and stock up like I did!

Or you can win a sample bottle of Centrum ProNutrients – see the bottom of this post!

Juicing with ProNutrients Probiotics

As part of my Centrum ProNutrients review , they sent me a juicer to create a few smoothies to use with their ProNutrients Probiotic. Centrum’s probiotic comes in powder form so you can add it to cool foods and drinks.

This is such a great way to “sneak” some probiotics into your children’s diets, especially if they don’t like taking pills. Plus, fresh fruit juices and smoothies are great ways to get more fruits and veggies into you and your family's diet. Just make sure to use organic fruit and vegetables whenever possible.

My kids really enjoyed my take on the classic Green Monster smoothie juice drink. They couldn’t taste the probiotics, the apples naturally sweetened it, and the kids enjoyed the frothiness, too. 

Fennel & Kale Green Monster with Probiotics

Makes two 8 ounce drinks

Ingredients:

• 3 stalks celery
• 1/2 bulb fennel
• 3 small apples
• 1 sprig fresh tarragon
• 3 stalks kale
• 2 packets Centrum ProNutrients Probiotics

Directions:

1. Wash all ingredients thoroughly in cool water.
2. Cut apples if needed. It’s not necessary to peel them!
3. Combine all ingredients in your juicer and follow manufacturers directions to make juice.
4. Add probiotic powder directly to the juice container and whisk until frothy.
5. Pour juice into 8 ounces glasses and serve immediately.

Don't forget that you can save any of the recipes you see here at This Mama Cooks! On a Diet to an online recipe box by clicking the Save Recipe button below.

Win a bottle of Centrum ProNutrients

I’m giving away ONE Centrum ProNutrients product of your choice:

• ProNutrients™ Omega-3, 50-unit package ($12.99 value) OR
• ProNutrients™ Fruit & Veggie 50-unit package ($11.99 value) OR
• ProNutrients™ Probiotic 14-unit package ($18.99 value)

Giveaway closed. Congrats to Denise S.!
 

Here’s how to enter:

1. Tell me which Centrum ProNutrients product you’re interested in trying out.
2. Take the Centrum Nutrition Possible Assessment to create a nutrition plan and get up to $10 in Centrum coupons for ONE additional entry.
3. Sign up for This Mama Cooks! Review’s RSS feed for ONE additional entry.
4. Sign up for my enewsletter for ONE additional entry.
5. Spread the word about this giveaway by submitting a link to this post on Twitter for ONE additional entry. You must leave a link to your tweet in your comment so I can check.
6. If you have done any of these additional activities you MUST come back here and leave a comment telling me what you did. I will be checking!
7. Maximum amount of entries at This Mama Cooks! On a Diet is FIVE.
8. You have until midnight MST on Friday, January 27, 2012 to enter.

ONE winner will be chosen at random. You must be willing to send me your full name, mailing address and phone number so I pass your info on to Centrum’s PR agency so they can mail you your prize. I’ll announce the winner on this blog. I won't share your mailing info with the public, just your name. If you have a blog, I’ll link back to it when I announce the winner.

The giveaway is valued at $13-19 and is only open to legal residents of the United States, 18 years of age and older. No purchase required. Odds of winning based on number of entries. Up to FIVE entries per person. ONE Centrum ProNutrients product will be given away. Void where prohibited by law. By submitting your name and email address, you agree to receive relevant promotional emails and contest follow up communications from This Mama Cooks! On a Diet in compliance with my privacy policy and giveaway rules.

Official giveaway rules.

_______________
Disclosure: I’m participating in a Centrum ProNutrients campaign hosted by One2One Network. I received nutritional product, a juicer and compensation. While all opinions stated are my own, I make no claims about Centrum ProNutrients as a product or it's effectiveness.

Juicing with Centrum ProNutrients Probiotics {giveaway} #NutritionPossible is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

Udi’s Gluten Free Community wants to hear how Udi’s has helped you! Submit a video (no longer than two minutes) on YouTube explaining how Udi’s Gluten Free products and going gluten free has helped make a new you for the new year!

Here’s more from Wendy at Udi’s announcing the contest and telling you how to enter:

Make sure to watch and listen to the video to learn how to submit your entry. Here’s an example video response to inspire you.

The contest runs until January 31st.

Udi’s Gluten Free “New Year, New You” video contest prizes

Best Overall Video

• Your video will be featured on the Udi’s website, Facebook page, and February e-newsletter (That’s over 1 million viewers combined!)
• A Sony HD Bloggie Video Camera ($199)
• 1 year’s worth of Udi’s Gluten Free products [2 products per month] ($144)

Most Viewed Video

• Kindle Touch ($99)
• 6 months worth of Udi’s Gluten Free products [2 products per month] ($72)

Funniest Video

• Udi’s gift bundle including reusable bag, 5 products, and The Intolerant Gourmet cookbook by Barbara Kafka ($75)

Best Music Video

• Udi’s gift bundle including reusable bag, 5 products, and The Intolerant Gourmet cookbook by Barbara Kafka ($75)
  

Most Creative Product Feature

• Udi’s gift bundle including reusable bag, 5 products, and The Intolerant Gourmet cookbook by Barbara Kafka ($75)
  

Judging will be done by a panel of Udi’s Gluten Free employees.

_________________
Disclosure: As a Udi's Gluten Free Community Leader I'm compensated for my time and efforts on their behalf.

Enter the Udi’s Gluten Free “New Year, New You” video contest! #gfcommunity is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

This month, the Ziploc Brand is launching the Great American FreshOver Project to show families that eating fresh is easy, convenient, and healthy. I’ll be helping Ziploc Brand spread the word about the Great American FreshOver Project by providing you with tips, recipes, and suggestions on how Ziploc Brand Containers and Bags can make it easy for you to make over meals and incorporate more fresh and nutritious foods into your daily routine.

Join me, Ziploc and Rachael Ray!

Remember last month when I shared that the Ziploc Brand was partnering with a celebrity? Well, it’s Food Network personality, Rachael Ray! Since Rachael has gotten so many people back in the kitchen with her easy approach to cooking, she’s a great choice to challenge families everywhere to freshen up their meals and begin their FreshOver Projects at home.

In turn, Ziploc Brand will be donating to Rachael Ray’s non-profit organization, Yum-O! Yum-O! empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking by teaching families to cook, feeding hungry kids and funding cooking education and scholarships.

Get involved in the FreshOver Project

I love using Ziploc Brand Containers from storing chicken stock in the freezer to keeping my kitchen pantry organized. So combining a product I use every day with a way to get my readers and their families to eat in a more healthy way is my kind of project. I hope you think so by participating in The Great American FreshOver Project with me!

You can “pledge” to start your family’s FreshOver Project by “liking” the Ziploc Facebook page. Then you can download Rachael’s exclusive FreshOver Recipe Guide. With every download, up to a maximum of 50,000 downloads, between 1/1/12 and 12/31/13, Ziploc Brand will make a $1 donation to Rachael Ray’s Yum-O! organization on the fans behalf, for up to a maximum $50,000 donation.

To further support Yum-O!, Rachael Ray and Ziploc will donate an additional $200,000 during the same time period, no matter how many guides are downloaded. You’ll also have access to exclusive Rachael Ray videos and tips, weekly prize drawings, Ziploc Brand coupons, and more.

Of course, my family and I will be participating in the FreshOver Project. I already incorporate a lot of fresh and nutritious foods in what I cook up at home. (I wouldn’t be a healthy food blogger if I didn’t.) However, Rachael has some great tips and tools on how to freshen things up even more!

Win a year’s supply of Ziploc Brand Products!

Giveaway closed.Congrats to winner Denise B.!
 

How to enter to win a year's supply of Ziploc goodies (value $75):

1. In the comments below, tell me which recipe you want to try out from Rachael and Ziploc’s Recipe Guide.
2. Sign up for This Mama Cooks! Review’s RSS feed for ONE additional entry.
3. Sign up for my enewsletter for ONE additional entry.
4. Spread the word about this giveaway by submitting a link to this post on Twitter for ONE additional entry. You must leave a link to your tweet in your comment so I can check.
5. Follow @amnichols on Twitter for ONE additional entry.

If you have done any of these additional activities you MUST come back here and leave a comment telling me what you did. I will be checking!

The Sweepstakes begins on January 12, 2012 at 12:00 am PT and ends on January 17, 2012 at 5:00 pm PT

Click here for the Ziploc Giveaway Official Rules

___________________
Disclosure: I have partnered with Ziploc^® and am being compensated for my posts. However, my opinions on the product are my own.

The Great American FreshOver Project & a chance to win a year’s supply of Ziploc Brand Products! #Ziploc #FreshOver is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

I first came across the Tintin comics at my uncle’s home in France. He brought in a few of the books to my room hoping that they’d keep me entertained. The problem was that they were all in French since they probably belonged to my older cousins. Even so, I did love gazing at the pictures, which is why I’m looking forward to the release of The Adventures of Tintin. You can watch trailers of the movie here.

Alouette joins in with Tintin’s adventure with their “What’s Your Culinary Adventure” Sweepstakes on Facebook. They’re giving away three culinary adventures: a wine weekend in Sonoma Valley, California, a visit to a wine and food festival in South Beach, Florida, and a fine dining restaurant tour in NYC. In addition, you can visit Alouette’s Adventures of Tintin website for a chance to win weekly prizes or a 10-day European trip.

In addition, I’m giving away an Adventures of Alouette Cheese Prize Pack which contains Alouette FREE product coupons, movie passes, and Tintin plush dolls for the kids. (Details below on how to win!)

But first, a wonderful holiday recipe from the Tintin Alouette Recipe Collection. This time of year you can easily find Cornish game hens in the freezer section at your grocery store. They’re a delicious holiday dinner alternative to the usual turkey, ham and roast beef.

Alouette Garlic and Herbs Couscous and Cornish Game Hens

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole grain couscous
• 4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 Cornish game hens
• 2 ounces vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup black olives, pitted and halved
• 1/2 cup green olives, pitted and halved
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup capers
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1/2 cup peas
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 package Alouette’s Light Garlic & Herbs Spreadable Cheese 

Directions:

1. Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan and add the couscous. Bring back to a simmer, cover and remove from heat. After 10 minutes stir in olive oil with a fork and keep warm.
2. Split and quarter each Cornish game hen and season with salt and pepper.
3. In a large skillet heat vegetable oil over medium high heat. Sear all pieces of the Cornish game hen until golden brown.
4. Drain oil and add olives, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, cherry tomatoes and heat thoroughly. Add chicken stock and bring to a simmer for 8-10 minutes.
5. Remove Cornish game hen and most of the vegetables from the sauce. Cover to keep warm.
6. Stir Alouette Garlic and Herbs Spreadable Cheese into the liquid to make the sauce. Add the peas and chopped parsley.
7. To serve, fill the bottom of a casserole dish with the cooked couscous, top with the Cornish game hen and vegetables. Spoon sauce over Cornish game hens and couscous. Enjoy!

Win a Adventures of Alouette Cheese Prize Pack

One lucky winner will receive an Adventures of Alouette Cheese Prize Pack valued at $52 that contains:

• Five Alouette full value coupons
• Movie tickets for two from HollywoodMovieMoney.com
• Two Adventures of Tintin plush toys – Tintin and his dog Snowy (my daughter loved these)

Here’s how to enter:

Giveaway closed. Congrats to Renee W.!

1. Go to alouettecheese.com and tell me what your favorite Alouette product is for ONE entry.
2. Enter the Alouette Tintin contest here for ONE additional entry.
3. Sign up for This Mama Cooks! Review’s RSS feed for ONE additional entry.
4. Sign up for my enewsletter for ONE additional entry.
5. Spread the word about this giveaway by submitting a link to this post on Twitter for ONE additional entry. You must leave a link to your tweet in your comment so I can check.
6. If you have done any of these additional activities you MUST come back here and leave a comment telling me what you did. I will be checking!
7. Maximum amount of entries at This Mama Cooks! On a Diet is FIVE.
8. You have until midnight MST on Thursday, December 22, 2011 to enter.

ONE winner will be chosen at random. You must be willing to send me your full name, mailing address and phone number so I pass your info on to Alouette’s PR agency so they can mail you your prize pack. I’ll announce the winner on this blog. I won't share your mailing info with the public, just your name. If you have a blog, I’ll link back to it when I announce the winner.

The giveaway is valued at $52 and is only open to legal residents of the United States, 18 years of age and older. No purchase required. Odds of winning based on number of entries. Up to FIVE entries per person. ONE Alouette Cheese Prize Pack will be given away. Void where prohibited by law.

By submitting your name and email address, you agree to receive relevant promotional emails and contest follow up communications from This Mama Cooks! On a Diet in compliance with my privacy policy and giveaway rules.

_________________
Disclosure: I received an Alouette Cheese Prize Pack and was compensated for my time. All opinions are my own.

Dinner and a movie: Couscous and Cornish Game Hens and a chance to win an Adventures of Tintin prize pack is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

It’s been a blast having a Premier Club membership from The California Wine Club. Every time FedEx drops off a package of wine, it’s like Santa coming to the house!

This month I was sent two estate wines from the Tulip Hill winery. The 2009 Mount Oso Vineyard Cabepulciano, a hardy red, is a blend of 45% Montepulciano and 55% Cabernet Sauvignon. This would be wonderful with roast beef, barbecue, burgers or a holiday turkey. The white wine was a Mount Oso Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay. I’m not a big white wine drinker, but I loved this. I drank it with Sriracha Chicken Skewers and rice, but it would also go well with less spicy dishes like grilled fish or pasta topped with a pesto sauce.

The California Wine Club’s Premier Club membership (and discount code!)

The Premier Club is The California Wine Club’s most popular wine gift. You can pick a one to 12 month membership, what type of wines (one red and one white, two reds, or two whites) you’d want, and how often you want the wine shipped (every month, every other month, or quarterly.) Premier Club gifts start at just $49.45, plus shipping and handling, applicable sales tax, and applicable import fees.

Use code mamacooks to get 10% off any gifts you place with The California Wine Club.

Also, if you want to try a Premier Membership for yourself, use code mamacooks to get 10% off your first month as well as an extra bottle of wine in your first shipment. (Three bottles in all!) There’s no obligation to continue past the first month.

To learn more about the California Wine Club, visit CAWineClub.com. You can also connect with them on Twitter and on The California Wine Club’s Facebook page or at The Boring Wine Guy’s Facebook page.

Wine lover gift ideas

The California Wine Club holiday gifts won’t ship starting in January 2012. In order to have something under the tree, you may want to give the wine lover on your holiday list a wine accessory along with a little note about their Premier Club gift. Here are a few suggestions:

• Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator – Aerating your wine makes such a difference. In fact, it makes wine a little too drinkable, if you know what I mean!
• Vacu Vin Wine Saver Vacuum Wine Pump with 2 Stoppers – I received one of these as a wedding gift nearly 18 years ago, and it still works great.
• Screwpull 4-Wheel Foil Cutter – This was another wedding gift. Much easier to use than a paring knife, believe me.
• Wine charms – Jewelry for your wine glasses!
• A corkscrew – I prefer the winged type, but the hinged “waiter’s style” corkscrew is great for taking camping or packing in your checked-in luggage.

Win one month’s Premier Club membership

This is your last chance to win a month’s membership to The California Wine Club’s Premier Club! (Please note: you MUST be over 21 years of age, a legal resident of the US, and not live in Utah in order to participate in the giveaway.)

Giveaway closed. Congrats to Elizabeth G.!

1. Share what type (or types) of wine you enjoy in the comments below for ONE entry.
2. Sign up for This Mama Cooks! Review’s RSS feed for ONE additional entry.
3. Sign up for my enewsletter for ONE additional entry.
4. Spread the word about this giveaway by submitting a link to this post on Twitter for ONE additional entry. You must leave a link to your tweet in your comment so I can check.
5. Follow @amnichols on Twitter for ONE additional entry.
6. Follow @cawineclub on Twitter for ONE additional entry.
7. Follow @boringwineguy on Twitter for ONE additional entry.
8. If you have done any of these additional activities you MUST come back here and leave a comment telling me what you did. I will be checking!
9. Maximum amount of entries at This Mama Cooks! On a Diet is SEVEN.
10. You have until midnight MST on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 to enter.

ONE winner will be chosen at random. You must be willing to send me your full name, mailing address and phone number so I pass your info on to The California Wine Club so they can mail you your wine. I’ll announce the winner on this blog. I won't share your mailing info with the public, just your name. If you have a blog, I’ll link back to it when I announce the winner.

The giveaway is valued at approximately $49.45 and is only open to legal residents of the United States, 21 years of age and older. No purchase required. Odds of winning based on number of entries. Up to SEVEN entries per person. ONE one-month Premier Club membership will be given away. Void where prohibited by law.

By submitting your name and email address, you agree to receive relevant promotional emails and contest follow up communications from This Mama Cooks! On a Diet in compliance with my privacy policy and giveaway rules.

_________________
Disclosure: I received a three-month Premier Club membership to The California Wine Club. All opinions are my own.

Holiday gift ideas: California Wine Club membership giveaway is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

The Avocados from Mexico Mini Chef Video contest is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

I’ve always liked Barilla pasta products, especially their no-cook lasagna noodles and their delicious whole grain pastas. We made the switch to whole grain pasta years ago. At first, my family complained that the pasta was too dry, but they got used to it and prefer it over regular pasta now. Since it’s important that you include whole grains in your diet, I won’t buy anything else.

Barilla’s whole grain pasta challenge and coupon

To get your family to make the switch to whole grain pastas, Barilla has created the Whole Grain Taste & Share Challenge on their Facebook page. To participate in the Challenge:

1. Try a box of Barilla Whole Grain pasta, then look for the code on your box.
2. Go to Barilla’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/barillaus and “like” the page.
3. Then go to the Whole Grain Taste & Share Challenge page and enter the code. (The page shows you where the code is on your box.)
4. Then you can share the Challenge with two friends on Facebook.
5. Barilla rewards you all by giving your friends a coupon for $1 off their next box of Barilla Whole Grain Pasta. You get a coupon for $1 off when you buy two boxes of Barilla.

To learn more about Barilla whole grain pastas and get recipes the whole family will enjoy, visit Barilla's Dinner Kit.

Barilla Whole Grain Pasta Taste & Share Challenge Kit giveaway

Three of my lucky readers will win a Barilla Whole Grain Taste & Share Challenge Kit worth approximately $100. (Suggestion: make holiday gifts out of the olive oil, salt, vinegar and apron. Or keep it all for yourself!)

Each kit contains:

• Barilla Whole Grain linguine, thin spaghetti, spaghetti, medium shells, rotini and penne
• A Barilla apron
• Academia Barilla 100% Italian Olive Oil
• Academia Barilla Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, aged 3 years
• Academia Barilla Pesto Alla Genovese
• Academia Barilla Canned Cherry Tomatoes
• Academia Barilla Sicilian Sea Salt with Black Olives

(You can see a picture of all the items on Blog By Donna. I forgot to snap a picture before we ate the pasta and I packed away the apron and bottles.)

The Academia Barilla line of products are made with the best ingredients and support local artisans, regional differences and innovation, while maintaining the most genuine traditions. I’m looking forward to trying them out. (Don’t want to open any new bottles before we move, which is why I haven’t done an olive oil taste test yet.)

How to enter to win your Barilla Challenge Kit

Giveaway closed. Congrats to Sarah C., Karen M. and Kristen of Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker

1. Share what type pasta (spaghetti, shells, etc.) is most popular with you or your family in the comments below for ONE entry.
2. Sign up for This Mama Cooks! Review’s RSS feed for ONE additional entry.
3. Sign up for my enewsletter for ONE additional entry.
4. Spread the word about this giveaway by submitting a link to this post on Twitter for ONE additional entry. You must leave a link to your tweet in your comment so I can check.
5. Follow @amnichols on Twitter for ONE additional entry.
6. If you have done any of these additional activities you MUST come back here and leave a comment telling me what you did. I will be checking!
7. Maximum amount of entries at This Mama Cooks! On a Diet is FIVE.
8. You have until midnight MST on Sunday, December 4, 2011 to enter.

THREE winners will be chosen at random. You must be willing to send me your full name, mailing address and phone number so I pass your info on to Mom Central so they can mail out your kit. I’ll also announce the winners on this blog. I won't share your mailing info with the public, just your first name and last initial. If you have a blog, I’ll link back to it when I announce the winner.

The giveaway is valued at approximately $100 and is only open to legal residents of the United States. No purchase required. Odds of winning based on number of entries. Up to FIVE entries per person. THREE Barilla Whole Grain Taste & Share Challenge Kits will be given away to THREE readers (one kit per winner). Void where prohibited by law.

By submitting your name and email address, you agree to receive relevant promotional emails and contest follow up communications from This Mama Cooks! On a Diet in compliance with my privacy policy and giveaway rules.

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Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Barilla and received a Taste & Share Challenge Kit to facilitate my review, kits to giveaway, and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Barilla Whole Grain Pasta Taste & Share Challenge Kit giveaway is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

Holland House is holding a Holiday Sweepstakes Bash on Facebook where you can win $500 for your holiday party. You’ll also get advice from an expert blogger party planner (not me, but one of my fellow Mizkan Blogger Advocates) to help you plan your holiday bash. All you need to do is “like” the Holland House Facebook page and then enter the contest here. The sweepstakes ends on December 7, 2011 at 11:59:59 pm CT.

To help you on your way to a wonderful Thanksgiving, check out this Holland House recipe for sweet potatoes featuring their Marsala Cooking Wine.

Marsala Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Recipe courtesy of Holland House

Ingredients:

• 3 pound orange-flesh sweet potatoes (red garnets)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup Holland House® Marsala Cooking Wine
• 6 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• Grated peel of 1 orange
• 1/4 cup whipping cream (optional)
• Toasted pecan pieces

Directions:

1. Fill a 6-quart pot halfway with water. Peel each potato and place in pot to prevent browning. Cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes and return to pot. Drain water so there is enough just to cover potatoes. Stir in salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Boil 10 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
2. In a small microwaveable bowl or 1-cup glass measuring cup, heat marsala cooking wine in microwave 1 minute on medium power or until very hot. Stir in butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange peel.
3. When potatoes are cooked, drain water from pot. Add marsala cooking wine mixture to pot. Whip with electric beater until smooth. Stir in cream, if desired. Keep warm until ready to serve. Garnish with pecans.

Helpful Hint: Whipped sweet potatoes may be made a day ahead and refrigerated. Reheat in microwave, covered, on medium power. Stir occasionally.

This Mama’s tips

• To reduce saturated fat, use a buttery spread instead of butter.
• Instead of whipping cream, use no-fat evaporated milk.
• If you’re allergic to nuts, use toasted pine nuts (which are actually seeds) instead of pecan pieces.

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Disclosure: Mizkan, the parent company of Holland House, provided compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

Countdown to Thanksgiving: Marsala Whipped Sweet Potatoes {Holland House Holiday Sweepstakes} is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!