If you’re on the lookout for ways to simplify holiday entertaining, you may want to keep ready-to-serve dips and spreads in your pantry. Luckily, there’s no need to go to a gourmet shop to spend a fortune on imported goodies. Instead, head over to Target and check out the Giada De Laurentiis for Target line of party food goodies.

These are perfect to keep on hand if you have guest who drop in unannounced or if you need a last minute potluck party appetizer. I like to keep items like this on hand to have something delicious and different to serve while we’re watching a movie or football.

Taste testing the Giada De Laurentiis for Target line

I recently had the opportunity to taste test several of the Giada De Laurentiis for Target line. Here are my party appetizer recommendations:

• Marinated Mushrooms – These are delicious. Drain the jar and place mushrooms in a little bowl. Your guests can use toothpicks to eat them. ($2.99)
• Genovese Basil Pesto – This pesto is better than my own homemade version, and was pleasantly surprised how fresh the basil tasted. This makes a nice spread on rice crackers and can be served as a pasta sauce. This contains cashews as well as pine nuts so warn your guests with nut allergies. ($3.49)
• Eggplant & Pepper Pesto – This was delicious on crackers and slightly sweet. ($2.99)
• Black Olive Tapenade – I love olives, but thought this spread was a bit strong. I’m guessing the anchovies were the reason. Still, the tapenade was tasty and would be wonderful smeared on a panini or sandwich. ($2.99)

There are also Marinated Sun Dried Tomatoes ($3.49) and Marinated Roasted Red Peppers ($3.49) in the Giada De Laurentiis for Target line. While both would be wonderful in all sorts of dishes from baked chicken breasts to pasta, both could be pureed in a mini food processor and used as spreads, too.

If you have the luxury of time, here’s a  recipe from Giada to use with her Black Olive Tapenade.

Tomato Basil Tartlets

Recipe Courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time: 16 minutes
Cook Time: 15 to 19 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 (10-by-9-inch) sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1/3 cup Giada De Laurentiis for Target Black Olive Tapenade
• 1 cup (2 1/2 ounces) shredded fontina cheese
• 8 cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 6 basil leaves, chopped
• Fleur de Sel or other large flake sea salt
• A 2 1/4-inch round cookie cutter

Directions:

1. Place oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place the pastry on a lightly floured work surface. Using the tines of a fork, prick the pastry all over. Using a 2 1/4-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 16 rounds of pastry. Place the pastry rounds on the prepared baking sheet. Lay a piece of parchment paper on top of the pastry rounds. Place another baking sheet directly on top of the parchment paper to keep the pastry even while baking. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until golden. Remove the top baking sheet and the top piece of parchment paper.
3. Spread 1 teaspoon of tapenade on each pastry round. Place about 1 tablespoon of cheese on top. Arrange 2 pieces of tomato on the cheese. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese has melted. Sprinkle the chopped basil on top.
4. Transfer the tartlets to a platter and garnish with a pinch of Fleur de Sel.

Entertaining with Giada De Laurentiis for Target Ceramic Bakeware

I also received a couple of pieces of Giada De Laurentiis for Target Ceramic Bakeware to review – the Ceramic Pie Pan ($16.99) and the 2-Quart Ceramic Oval Baker ($19.99). What I like about Giada’s line of bakeware is that it can go directly from the oven to the table. The bakeware is very attractive and elegant and looks like something I’d spend a fortune on at Crate & Barrel or Williams Sonoma. Also, it would make a lovely gift for anyone who’s setting up their first kitchen as well as someone who’s replacing beat up, old (and ugly) aluminum bakeware.

To serve the spreads and crackers, I used the Ceramic Pie Pan. I used a few small ramekins and nut dishes as bowls for the spreads, and placed them inside the pie pan. Then I filled it with rice crackers. Easy!

You can check out the complete like of Giada De Laurentiis for Target kitchenware on the Target website.

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Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Giada De Laurentiis for Target and received product samples to facilitate my review.

Easy holiday entertaining with Giada De Laurentiis and Target 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.

_________________
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!

One of the fun things about being a food blogger is the chance to try new products. This month, I’m working with Hunt's to try out their new Hunt’s Dinner Sauces and present them to my fellow bloggers in a dinner event this week in Denver. (Follow us on Twitter at #huntsdinnersauces.)

You see, Colorado cooks in the Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs areas are getting a first taste of Hunt's Dinner Sauces starting this month. The plan is to introduce Hunt’s Dinner Sauces to the rest of the US sometime next year.

Hunt’s Dinner Sauces make dinner time easy and delicious

Hunt’s Dinner Sauces combine the high quality and backyard garden fresh taste of Hunt’s Tomatoes with other premium ingredients such as vegetables, herbs, spices and olive oil. They come in four flavors:

• Tuscan: a taste of Tuscany with rich olive oil, basil and garlic.
• Southwest: hearty black beans and red bell peppers.
• Greek: a blend of savory artichokes and oregano is inspired by the tastes of Greece.
• Cacciatore: the flavors of Italy with sweet bell peppers and aromatic herbs.

You can learn more about Hunt’s Dinner Sauces at www.hunts.com or HuntsDinnerSauces.com. You can also connect with them on Twitter @HuntsChef and Facebook.

Cooking with Hunt’s Dinner Sauces

I’ve fallen in love with Hunt’s Dinner Sauces – seriously! Not only are they delicious, but they make cooking a healthy meal so easy. You basically combine them with a protein like fish or chicken, and toss in a few vegetables. Add some pasta or rice and you have a yummy, easy to put together meal that the whole family will love.

Most meals you can make in 20 minutes or less, which is great for us busy parents on a weekday night. They’re also great for couples or singles, especially those who like having leftovers to take to work the next day. At $2.49 for a 16-ounce, they’re very affordable, too.

I also like the variety of dishes you can make with Hunt’s Dinner Sauces, like this vegetarian dish that would be perfect for a Meatless Monday meal.

Southwest Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:

• PAM Cooking Spray
• 2 large green bell peppers
• 1-1/2 cups frozen corn with peppers and onion
• 1-1/2 cups cooked brown rice
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 jar (16 ounces) Hunt’s Southwest Dinner Sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray 8x8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Cut bell peppers in half lengthwise through stem end. Remove seeds and membranes. Place peppers, cut-side down, in dish. Bake 20 minutes or until tender.
3. Cook corn with peppers and onion in microwave on HIGH 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir in rice, cheese, cumin and salt. Turn pepper halves over.
4. Spoon rice combination into peppers. Spoon Hunt’s Southwest Dinner Sauce over peppers. Bake 20 minutes more or until hot.

Hunt’s Dinner Sauce Giveaway

Get a sneak preview of Hunt’s Dinner Sauces by entering my giveaway of a Hunt’s Dinner Sauce prize pack (worth $50) to one lucky This Mama Cooks! On a Diet reader. The giveaway includes:

• 1 jar each of Hunt’s Cacciatore Dinner Sauce, Hunt’s Tuscan Dinner Sauce, Hunt’s Greek Dinner Sauce, and Hunt’s Southwest Dinner Sauce
• Sur La Table prep bowls
• Hunt’s apron
• Hunt’s spatulas
• Hunt’s Dinner Sauces recipe cards

Here’s how to enter:

Giveaway closed. Congrats to winner Sharon S.!

1. Share which Hunt’s Cooking Sauces you’d like to try first 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 @HuntsChef on Twitter for ONE additional entry.
7. 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!
8. Maximum amount of entries at This Mama Cooks! On a Diet is SIX.
9. You have until midnight MST on Monday, October 24, 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 Hunt’s PR team 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 approximately $50 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 SIX entries per person. ONE Hunt’s Dinner Sauce 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: This post is sponsored by Hunt’s, but my review and opinions are my own.

A sneak peak at Hunt’s Dinner Sauces {review and giveaway} #huntsdinnersauces is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

After my husband, Paul, got laid off last June, we stopped eating out to cut back on expenses. Even going out to our local (and reasonably priced) Asian restaurant was out of the question. I missed having my favorite Chinese, Vietnamese and Tai dishes, especially knowing how hard it was to replicate those dishes at home. I’ve tried to before and was never successful. (Though I do have to admit that Paul’s one hell of a home sushi chef and Pad Thai cook.)

When I signed up as a Sun-Bird Seasonings blogger, I hoped that I’d be able to make healthy, inexpensive and authentic tasting dishes at home with their seasoning mixes. So far I’ve tried two that I’ve loved: Stir Fry Seasoning Mix and Mongolian Beef Seasoning Mix. Both Sun-Bird Seasonings mixes were easy to make, especially with things I had on hand, like frozen vegetables. Best of all, they were delicious and just as good as any thing I had out at Chinese restaurants by my home – and without the pricy bill and tip!

Healthing up Sun-Bird Seasoning Mixes

Now I’ll be honest. The mixes aren’t perfect. They contain things like sugar, whey (which I have a food sensitivity to), corn syrup, and even MSG. Some of their mixes are better than others, so read the labels.

Luckily, there are ways to health things up. For example, if the label directions have you add sugar, you could use powdered stevia instead. Or if you’re supposed to add soy sauce, you could use a low-sodium or gluten free soy sauce.

I’ve also noticed that the packets create a lot of very thick sauce. To thin it, add more water. This way you can add more food, especially healthy stir fry vegetables. Believe me, a little sauce goes a long way, especially with the spicy mixes.

Finally, serve your dishes with whole grain brown rice.

Mongolian Tofu

When I made Mongolian Beef for my family, there wasn’t quite enough to go around as I knew my husband and son would want more than the usual serving. So I decided to cook up some tofu for myself. Here’s how:

1. Cook up the beef as directed on the back of the packet. (I added 1/2 a onion to the beef when I browned it.)
2. After dishing up the beef, deglaze the skillet with water, broth or maybe a little white wine. (I used water.) Add just enough liquid (1/2 to 1 cup) to thin out the sauce and get the cooked bits off the skillet. Don’t cook to reduce the sauce. (You’ll do that later with the tofu.) Instead, pour the resulting broth into a bowl and set aside.
3. Heat the skillet over medium to medium high heat. While it’s heating, slice a block of very firm tofu into 1/2 inch slices.
4. Add a little cooking oil or cooking spray to the pan and lay the tofu slices in the pan.
5. Cook each side of the tofu until medium brown. Remove from skillet and place in a dish or plate, if necessary, to make room for more slices. Keep warm.
6. Cook all slices of the tofu and return them all to the skillet, loosely layered.
7. Add deglazing broth back to pan to cover tofu. Heat until broth thickens.
8. Remove skillet from heat and serve with stir fry vegetables.

I used another packet of Mongolian Beef mix to stir fry a huge portion of frozen stir fry vegetables – enough for the beef AND the tofu. I then served the Mongolian Beef with vegetables and rice, but just had vegetables with the Mongolian Tofu.

Just a note of warning, this is a spicy dish. My spice-loving husband and son thought it was too spicy! This shocked me, because I loved it – and I’m not into spicy food. Well, I do like spicy Asian food that is sweet, and Mongolian Tofu at home with Sun-Bird Seasoning Mix fit the bill.

What’s your favorite Asian dish to eat out or make at home?

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Disclosure: Guenther, the parent company of Sun-Bird, provided compensation for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Mongolian Tofu with Sun-Bird Seasoning Mix is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

When I was first approached by Door to Door Organics to do a review, I was a bit skeptical. After all, I live near so many farms (organic and conventional) and have access to farmer’s markets. Also, my local supermarkets do a decent job of providing some organic vegetables at a decent price. So why would I want to go to a  a home delivery service that at first glance seems a bit pricey?

Here are seven reasons why!

Reasons why Coloradans should sign up with Door to Door Organics

1. Door to Door Organics support local farmers whenever possible.  Here in Colorado, 80-90% of Door to Door Organics’ produce is sourced from local farmers. Door to Door Organics offers a “Local Farm Box” throughout the summer through October with 100% Colorado grown produce. This year, they are working with more than 15 local farms, offering sweet corn, tomatoes and summer squash from Full Circle Farms in Longmont, peaches and cherries from First Fruits in Hotchkiss, spinach and other greens from Grant Family Farms in Wellington, and a great deal more.

2. Door to Door Organics offers flexibility. I’ll never forget a friend calling me up to ask advice on how to cook up kale. Seems her CSA was sending her bushels of the stuff. After a few meals she was tired of trying to figure out new ways to cook it – and her family was sick of eating it.

Door to Door Organics’ customers have the ability to set preferences by choosing the produce they do or don’t want. You can make up to five substitutions with the current menu offering, and add additional items as well. You can also shop for groceries such as Colorado organic grass-fed beef, chocolate, coffee, and fresh-baked artisan bread, as well as order produce not grown in Colorado, such as bananas and avocados.

3. Door to Door Organics meet your family’s need. I’ve had friends overwhelmed by their CSA shares. It’s just too much food and they end up giving a lot of it to friends and neighbors. Door to Door Organic’s Local Farm Boxes are offered in two sizes: the Bitty, perfect for 1-2 people per week, and the Small, a good size for two to four people. They also offer other options, such as mixed fruit and vegetable boxes of various sizes. You can see all the box offerings here.

4. Door to Door Organics is convenient. If I was to get an organic CSA share, I’d have to take an hour round trip drive into Boulder County or a 90 round trip drive to Loveland once a week. What a time sucking and gas guzzling waste of my time! Instead, Door to Door Organics comes to you. In Colorado, their delivery area spans much of the state including Colorado Springs to Fort Collins, east to Reunion, and west to Gypsum and Steamboat Springs.  Delivery is included in the price for most areas throughout the Front Range.

5. Door to Door Organics is reasonably priced for what you get. The Bitty box starts at $24.99 and the Large Mixed box is $59.99. I received a Bitty box to facilitate this review and it was perfect for about a week’s worth of side dishes. (I got a cucumber, a pint of tri-color cherry tomatoes, a bunch of bok choi, a bunch of green beans, a Japanese eggplant, a bunch of kale, a bunch of lettuce, and a handful of shallots.) The produce was delicious. And if I had to factor in the convenience, variety and not having to drive all over town to go shopping, it seemed like a great price for organic produce.

There are other ways to save with Door to Door Organics. You can set up a co-op and have four or more boxes delivered to the same location for a discount. You could do this at work or your children’s school, sign up coworkers and other parents, and all benefit from the discount and the healthy veggies and fruits! There’s also a referral program, called a invitations program, where you can give friends or family a 50% discount off their first box of organic produce.

6. Door to Door Organics believes in helping their customers. Each Local Farm Box includes farm origin information for each item, which would come in handy if, god forbid, there was ever a recall. They also include farm news and details on upcoming farm events, including farm tours you can bring the kids, too. They also send you seasonal eating tips, and recipes. They recently launched a new feature on their website, Door to Door Organics Kitchen, which offers numerous recipes for everything you receive in your order. No more wondering what to do with all that kale!

7. Door to Door Organics is not just in Colorado. They also have programs in Kansas City, Chicago, Michigan and the East Coast including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Prices and offering vary by regions. If they don’t cover your area, put in a request to colorado@doortodoororganics.com.

For more information

For more information on Door to Door Organics in Colorado, visit Colorado.DoorToDoorOrganics.com or their FAQ page. You can also check out their main website at doortodoororganics.com. Connect with them on Facebook or follow Door to Door Organics on Twitter.

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Disclosure: I received a Bitty box of produce to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

7 reasons why you should sign up with Door to Door Organics is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

I’ve been a fan of Rudi’s Bakery since they saved my life a few years ago. Well, not literally but close enough. I’d just had knee surgery was nauseous from the morphine. Rudi’s flax bread, lightly toasted with a little butter, was the only thing I could keep down. I’ve been a fan ever since and always buy their organic breads for my family.

I also love their gluten free products, especially their Rudi’s Bakery Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread, which I always buy for my mother-in-law when she visits. I’m also impressed with Rudi’s Bakery Gluten-Free Pizza Crust, which I recently used in my Easy Six Ingredient Flatbread Pizza. It’s one of their three new gluten free products, along with their Multigrain Hot Dog Rolls and Multigrain Hamburger Buns.

(I’ll be taking the buns Rudi’s sent me on our Labor Day camping trip so I can have pulled pork on buns, just like everyone else. Can’t wait!)

Get Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery $1 off coupons

With so many people going gluten free these days, you may want to stock up on some Rudi's Gluten-Free Hamburger Buns and Hot Dog Rolls for those end of summer BBQs and fall tailgate parties.

Rudi’s Bakery makes it easier with their $1 off coupons. You can print up to two coupons and they’re good for a month.

Use their store locator to find where their gluten free breads are sold near you.

Going back to school with Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery

If your child is gluten free, it can be challenging to pack lunches that are nutritious, tasty and look like what the other kids are eating. That’s where Rudi’s Bakery can help. They offer a variety of breads that are perfect for sandwiches. You can also make mini-hoagies out of their hot dog buns. And their gluten free pizza crust is great for after school snacks.

To help your GF kiddo start off the school year right, I’m giving away Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Back to School Kits to three lucky readers.

Each kit contains:

• a sandwich container
• 2 VIP coupons
• a back to school lunch calendar
• and a few other fun items

The value of the kit is $20.

Contest is closed. Congrats to:

• Derk T.
• Sydney M.
• Lara N. of Twice Blessed Life

How to win a Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Back to School Kit

1. Comment below on what your or your child’s favorite lunch time sandwich is.
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 @rudisglutenfree on Twitter for ONE additional entry.
7. 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!
8. Maximum amount of entries at This Mama Cooks! is 6.
9. You have until midnight MST on Friday, September 9th to enter.
10. THREE winners will be chosen at random.
11. You must be willing to send me your full name, mailing address and phone number so I pass your info on to the folks at Rudi’s Bakery so they can mail out your back to school kit.
12. 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 kit is valued at $20 and is only open to legal residents of the United States, 18 years of age and older. No purchase required. Up to 6 entries per person. THREE  Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Back to School Kits 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 was sent samples of Rudi’s Gluten Free Bakery products to try out. All opinions are my own.

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery back to school giveaway {and $1 off coupon} #glutenfree is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

The Disney classic Winnie the Pooh opens in theaters everywhere on July 15th. Sadly, I have to stay away from honey due to my food sensitivities, though I totally get the scooping-honey-into-your-mouth-with-your-paw thing that Pooh does. He’s a “silly ol’ bear” after my own heart.

With the release of such a honey-positive movie, I’ve asked Amy Leigh of the Health Benefits of Honey Blog to write a guest post about why she recommends using honey instead of sugar in healthy snacks. Check out Amy’s blog to sign up for her free download, 10 Simple Ways To Add Honey To Your Diet, too.

5 healthy snacks that use honey instead of sugar

Without food, life would be impossible. Even for people who are on a strict diet, food’s a necessary element to keep the body healthy. However, as years passed, the nutritive quality of food has decreased. The consumption of sugar is a common practice, and people use sugar to sweeten their daily cravings.

In as much as people love sugar, it’s also a known substance that can cause certain problems when too much of it is consumed. Eating too much food with high sugar content can predispose you to develop a number of diseases like diabetes, obesity and heart problems.

If you are trying to live a healthy life without depriving yourself of calories, you could substitute honey for sugar. Unbelievable? Wait until you get hold of these five healthy snacks that use honey instead of sugar:

1. Honey Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies are full of oats, honey and milk, and are a great substitution for unhealthy snacks like potato chips. Since a lot of kids just munch on chips or chocolates during breaks, why not try substituting them for cookies made from more healthful oatmeal and honey? No sugar is needed, as honey is sweet enough to enhance the taste of the cookies.

2. Honey Granola Bars

Honey granola bars can also be a perfect substitute for chips and unhealthy snacks like junk food. Honey is the main ingredient, which blends well with the rest of the ingredients in granola bars: almonds, cherries, egg whites and cinnamon. This is definitely a hit among kids and adults alike. Kids, in particular, will surely love to eat honey granola bars during break time in school. You could also enjoy it at work or at home. Making granola bars yourself is easy, and eating it with your family and friends is a delicious and healthy treat.

3. Peanut Butter and Honey Rolls

These snack time treats are perfect if you have little time to prepare. You simply need wheat bread, peanut butter, nuts, fruit slices and honey. Slice the wheat bread into bite-sized pieces, spread some peanut butter and honey between two pieces of bread, and make a sandwich out of them. Roll them up, or use tiny sticks to keep the sandwiches together. Better yet, you may dip the bread into peanut butter and honey. These tasty rolls can be enjoyed during casual days and random gatherings.

4. Frozen Honey Banana Pops

The name sounds delicious, but you just wait until you get to have a taste. Frozen honey banana pops are great during hot and humid days. Ice cream has ridiculously high sugar content, but they still taste great. Frozen honey banana pops are sugar-free, but they taste even better. Simply coat a banana with honey, and then sprinkle a healthy topping of your choice such as crackers, oatmeal, nuts and dried fruits. Place it inside a clean container and store it in the freezer. It should be ready-to-eat in a few hours.

5. Honey-Glazed Banana Chips

Crispy banana chips with honey glaze sounds sumptuous. This is the perfect snack when watching a movie or game. Instead of sugar, you can use honey to glaze the banana chips. It tastes just as sweet and perfect, without the added health risks.

These snacks are actually inexpensive yet very healthy—making them the perfect treats for everyone to make. It’s also fun to try something different, so don’t be afraid to get creative on your kitchen skills. Honey’s a magical ingredient, and you’ll be amazed on how many healthy snacks you can whip up because of it.

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Disclosure: This is a guest post written by Amy Leigh of the Health Benefits of Honey Blog. The opinions and advice presented in this post do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this blog.

5 healthy snacks that use honey instead of sugar is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

I came across the best recipe and method for a classic roast chicken in the March 2011 issue of Cooking Light magazine – How to Roast a Whole Chicken. The seasoning and flavor were perfect. Also, the method of roasting the chicken for 45 minutes at 350 degrees and the rest of the time at 450 degrees made the skin golden and crispy.

Yes, I know that you shouldn’t eat roast chicken skin, but it’s so hard to resist. According to Cooking Light, “Since chicken breast meat is low in calories and saturated fat, you can eat the skin and still keep saturated fat within allowable limits. If you like dark meat, which is higher in saturated fat, remove and discard the skin.”

I’ll leave the indulgence up to you.

Roast chicken made easy with Mrs. Dash

Even though Cooking Light’s roast chicken recipe was easy to make, it involved buying special ingredients like fresh herbs. I thought there’s got to be an easier way to make this with ingredients I already have in my pantry and refrigerator. That’s when I thought of using Mrs. Dash seasonings blends.

Making your own roast chicken can be a bit more expensive than picking up a rotisserie chicken at the store. However, using Mrs. Dash and cooking roast chicken from scratch means not only lowering the sodium content but knowing what ingredients went into making it. This is very important if you have food sensitivities or allergies.

Plus, cooking roast chicken at home makes your whole house smell finger lickin’ good!

Mrs. Dash’s Roast Chicken

Based on Classic Roast Chicken from Cooking Light magazine

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 breast half or 1 leg quarter)

Ingredients:

• 1 (4-pound) whole roasting chicken
• 3 teaspoons buttery spread like I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Light
• 3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of your favorite Mrs. Dash seasoning blend
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1 lemon, quartered

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Discard giblets and neck from chicken. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breasts and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat.
3. Combine butter, oil and Mrs. Dash in a small bowl.
4. Rub mixture under loosened skin, over flesh, then rub over top of skin.
5. Tie ends of legs together with twine. Lift wing tips up and over back, and tuck under chicken.
6. Place chicken, breast side up, on a rack. Place rack in roasting pan. Place onion and lemon in cavity of chicken.
7. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 450° (do not remove chicken) and bake at 450° for 15 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in meaty part of leg registers 165°.
8. Remove chicken from pan and let stand 10 minutes. Discard skin. Carve chicken.

Nutritional information

(from original recipe)

• Calories 278
• Fat 13.6g (sat 4.1g, mono 5.7g, poly 2.5g)
• Cholesterol 111mg
• Carbs 0.9g;
• Sodium 563mg
• Protein 35.7g
• Fiber 0.3g

Weight Watchers POINTS = 7

This Mama’s tips

• I used Garlic & Herb on one chicken and Caribbean Citrus on another chicken. Other blends like Onion & Herb and Lemon Pepper would work well, too.
• Experiment with other citrus. Use grapefruit, limes or oranges along with or instead of lemons.

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Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Mrs. Dash. I received the full set of Mrs. Dash seasoning blends and was compensated for my time.

Easy roast chicken with Mrs. Dash is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

Lärabars, healthy snacking for when you’re on the go is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

Since I’m avoiding sugar these days, finding something to satisfy my craving for chocolate is difficult. That’s why I was so excited to try out Crio Brü, a brewed drink made from roasted 100% cacao (or cocoa) beans. It’s a chocolate drink that’s brewed like coffee. Nothing else is added to the beans and you’re in total control of what you add to the drink, whether it’s cream and sugar or rice milk and stevia.

Brewing a chocolate drink

Crio Brü sent me two types of their already ground chocolate beans to try:

• Cavalla – a premium roasted cocoa with natural hints of dark spice, coconut and cinnamon. This cacoa bean is grown on family farms pn the Ivory Coast.
• Vega Reál – a premium roasted cocoa with natural hints of red berries and dark spice grown in the Dominican Republic.

I chose to make my Crio Bru in my 4 cup Bodum French Press, but you can also make it in a standard coffee maker. I used 1/2 cup of beans for full French Press. Since it’s recommended that you use one to two level tablespoons for each “Crio cup” which is 4.25 ounces or a bit more than half a cup, I figured 8 half cups x 1 tablespoon = 1/2 cup. I followed their brewing directions carefully and produced a hot drink that looks like medium to dark coffee.

So how does Crio Brü taste?

The Crio Brü drinks did taste like hot chocolate, but one that you’ve made with too much water and no sweetener. At first they’re a bit disappointing, because you’re expecting hot chocolate. However, after adding “milk and sugar” – in my case unsweetened rice or coconut milk and stevia – I found it to be much more satisfying. I enjoyed sipping it and found that it reheated well in the microwave later in the day. (I can’t say the same of coffee, which gets nasty when reheated.)

The taste is rich and sophisticated, sort of like a mocha latte, but without the bitterness of coffee. However, I did miss the “tongue feel” of a creamy hot chocolate. I found  making a “cocoa au lait” with half So Delicious coconut milk (unsweetened) and half Crio Cru helped. You could also use half and half or coffee creamer, though that ruins the healthy factor of the chocolate drink.

I’ve also tried Crio Brü cold. You’ll notice some oil globules forming on the top, which is a natural part of the bean. But it’s such a small amount that Crio Brü is considered fat free. If you like iced coffee, iced Crio Brü would be a wonderful summer time drink.

If you like chocolate flavored coffee drinks, adding several tablespoons of Crio Brü to your coffee beans would be a healthier choice than adding sugary chocolate syrups to your coffee cup, too.

The health benefits of chocolate

Crio Brü does have a high ORAC score, about the same as a cup of raspberries. (An Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, or ORAC score, is a test tube analysis that measures the antioxidant levels of food and other chemical substances.) It’s also caffeine free.

Crio Brü claims that their drink is packed with more natural antioxidants and heart-healthy minerals and than almost any drink on the market. They also claim their drink acts as an appetite suppressant and will give you a boost of energy. Cocoa beans do contain a natural stimulant called theobromine that is a relative of caffeine. Unlike caffeine, theobromine gives you a noticeable increase in energy without making you feel nervous or jittery.

I’m reluctant to support any of their health claims, so I’ll leave that up to your best judgment. However, the Denver Post recently published an article, Good news: Chocolate's sweet health benefits by registered dietitian Shirley Perryman, that supports some of their claims about chocolate:

Research continues to suggest that chocolate offers health benefits: improved blood flow, decreased blood pressure and lowered risk of blood clots. Even the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee observed the link between dark chocolate and heart health, reinforcing this good news…

…The higher the percent cacao in chocolate, the greater the flavonol content. Flavonols are associated with a variety of health benefits, including heart health.

Whatever, your reason for seeking out a healthy chocolate drink, I highly recommend Crio Brü roasted 100% cacao beans. After I run out of the samples the company sent me, I will be purchasing more.

Each 3/4 pound bag currently sells for $11.47 plus shipping and handling. They also sell Crio Beans, Crio Cocoa and French Presses. You can learn more about Crio Brü at www.criobru.com or connect with them on Twitter and Facebook.

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Disclosure: Some of the links to Crio Brü are affiliate links from which I may earn a commission.

A chocolate drink that brews like coffee – Crio Brü is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!