My New Bakery

This guest post from Doris Dillon


When I started a new small baking business in Clearview, I knew I had to step up my technology game. I was finally out on my own, and doing what I love for a living. I felt a lot of pressure to bring in customers, and keep the business afloat. The last thing I wanted was to fail and have to fire my employees. Before I started my own business I had no idea how much work it takes just to get people in the door! I knew that I had to be accessible to both my customers and employees, and I also needed to put out a great web marketing campaign. The first step in doing this was searching wireless internet Clearview to find the best, most reliable internet service in town. I also needed to have a mobile hotspot so I could work on the go. My next step was to hire a talented web designer and come up with a great marketing campaign. Luckily, things have been going great, and it doesn’t look like the bakery will be closing any time soon. I’m so happy that I used technology to help get me here.



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Homemade Lima Beans

Beans, Beans good for the Heart, Beans, Beans Make me Fart!  Ha, Ha.  I remember kids used to say that in school.  Anyways, I'm sharing how I do my lima beans today.  I love, love lima beans and contrary to many folks I don't soak mine and they still come out great.

My mom used to make these all the time.  She'd start them while we were in school or just getting out and by dinner time they'd be awesome!

Here's basically what I do. First every time I make a ham, I save the bone and freeze it.  If I don't have a bone on hand I will simply get some ham hocks and throw it in my pot for flavor.    I stick that bad boy in a big pot of water than add my lima's (the whole bag of dry beans and I prefer the big ones).  I do rinse these just to get out the unwanted sediments etc.

Then a chopped onion goes in.

Then I put it on the stove and start it off at a boil.  I then reduce the heat to a low boil and continue to cook until they are nice and soft. You can cover if you wish sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.  You also want to stir it here and there but you don't have to baby it.  Towards the middle to end of the cooking cycle once my broth starts thickening and getting color I give it a taste.

 

I add salt first and foremost. Sometimes garlic powder, black pepper or whatever I think it's missing.  Ultimately I also add my friends....

Tabasco and Lea and Perrrins!  I sometimes even invite Texas Pete into the pot.

 

I continue to cook until they are nice and soft (a couple hours) but not falling apart too much.  I also like my broth nice and fairly thick so it goes great over rice.  I personally just eat mine like a soup.  Before then I taste it again and add some more of the above or spice to suit my taste.

 

And then it's happy hour!

Yum to the Yum!

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Slim-Fast's Launches Best Tasting Shakes Ever!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have a New Year’s goal to go from now to Wow?  You are not alone in that endeavor, trust me.   I’m not setting particular goals per say but I will be taking on the role of a more active lifestyle which means a little more exercise and eating healthier.  I’m a big “snacker” so trying to find alternatives for that will be my biggest factor.   Many people consider a diet focused on looking great at a specific vent or occasion like a wedding, reunion or vacation.  I can certainly relate having been to a wedding in the last year or so however my goal is solely for the health benefits.

I do not ever want to have to sacrifice taste on account of eating healthier or dieting.  I like what I like and I guess I’m stubborn in that way. Slim-Fast wants you to know that they have just introduced its richest, creamiest, and best-tasting shakes ever launched in years that comes conveniently in a bottle designed to go everywhere which I think is very appropriate for the brand.



Here’s the run down on this new shake:
*The new Slim-Fast shakes will wow your taste buds, provide up to four hours of hunger control    and offer 10 grams of protein, five grams of fiber and 24 essential vitamins and minerals, making it easier for you to stick to your plan and achieve your weight loss goals.

Flavors available in the new Slim-Fast bottle include:
*Creamy Milk Chocolate
*French Vanilla
* Rich Chocolate Royale
*Cappuccino Delight
*Strawberries N’ Cream

These new Slim-Fast shakes are part of the Slim-Fast 3•2•1 Plan. This plan is pretty flexible so you can probably get the structure you want and the variety you crave all at the same time.



Here’s the plan:
• 3 Snacks: Three nourishing snacks a day such as Slim-Fast 100-calorie snack bars, fruit, nuts or veggies
• Slim-Fast 100-calorie snack bars provide a delicious calorie-controlled snack to help curb sweet cravings between meals
• 2 Slim-Fast Shakes or Meal Bars per day: Slim-Fast shakes and meal bars are delicious and satisfying, providing the balanced nutrition of a meal and up to four hours of hunger control
• 1 Balanced Meal: Enjoy one balanced 500-calorie meal per day. As a rule, try to fill half your plate with veggies, a quarter with protein, and a quarter with whole grains
Availability
• The new Slim-Fast shakes are available in the pharmacy sections of grocers and retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway and Kroger and online at Amazon.com and the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Store on Facebook.

What product from the plan are you most excited to try?  I’m a sucker for strawberries, so for me I’d have to go with the Strawberries N’ Cream!   I really like the rule of thumb on filling your plate too which for some, portion control is half of the battle.

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Marzetti Simply Dressed #CleverSalads #CleverMarzetti

When I was younger I was never much of a salad person like I am today. Today, I can eat salad anytime, anywhere and it most certainly has to have dressing! My husband first turned me onto blue cheese dressing and I’ve been hooked ever since. Before I'd always go the Ranch route and never veered much.  While I still like Ranch, I now like to try all sorts of dressings. You never know what you might be missing!  In fact I like blue cheese dressing so much that I “finger lick” it! Can you admit that you "finger lick" your dressing too or am I just the odd one?

Now one thing I’ve learned is that not all dressing is created equally. I’ve had my fair share of never buy again versions, homemade versions, and then a few hits in between too.

Most recently I got to try a new line of dressing by Marzetti called Simply Dressed and the one I ended up picking out was Blue Cheese. I had a few apprehensions of which one to choose since all of the varieties sounded very good but thought I’d give the old stand by a whirl.

One of my favorite salads to have with blue cheese is quite basic and consists of iceberg lettuce, red onions and crisp bacon bits (when I'm not eating hot wings). I was very surprised at how good this dressing was and is on my list to buy again. It has a great consistency that’s not too runny or too thick. It also has some great blue cheese chunks (the more the merrier) that give it a great texture and it’s refrigerated at the store which I prefer for blue cheese versus sitting on the aisle unrefrigerated. It also has a buttermilk taste with touches of garlic that make this a great tasting dressing.





Any of the Marzetti Simply Dressed flavors could add some pizzazz to your holiday meals.  There's ten great new flavors to choose from for those holiday recipes/salads that consist of Ranch, Caesar, Pomegranate, Cole Slaw, Balsalmic, Champagne (I really want to try this one too!), Strawberry Poppyseed, Greek Feta, Ginger Sesame, and of course Blue Cheese.  You can find these at your local grocery fresh produce section for convenience and added freshness!

These retail for about $3.59-$4.59 per 12-ounce bottle.  To find a store near you that carries it, simply visit www.marzetti.com/where-to-buy/.  In addtion to fresh-tasting this line is without any preservatives, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, MSG or artificial flavors or colors.  It's also made with a minimal number of all-natural and simple ingredients such as extra virgin olive oil, canola oil (source of Omega-3 ALA) and sea salt! 

What's your favorite flavor of salad dressing?  Have you tried the Marzetti's Simply Dressed yet?  I also have a great recipe from a fellow blogger for Buffalo Blue Cheese dip that will knock your socks off!  I can't wait to try it with Marzetti's Blue Cheese! 

Do you make any great dishes using salad dressing?  If so I'd love to hear your ideas!

I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Simply Dressed review. They provided me with product to test myself and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.

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Cream Cheese and Chive Mashed Potatoes

We love potatoes around here and it also ranks up there among my comfort foods too - only homemade.  Whether you whip or mash your potatoes it's quite a filling side dish that's sure to satisfy and goes with so many foods.  I made this the other night with a beef roast that I did in the crock pot.  Here's what I did:

Ingredients
About 2 lbs potatoes peeled, and quartered (I eyeball it)
1/2 cup milk
1 block of 8 ounce cream cheese room temp
fresh diced green onions (to taste - about 1/4 to 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup ranch dressing
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Cook potatoes in just enough water to cover for about 20 minutes or until just soft.  You'll want to start them off with a boil then reduce heat to medium.  Drain when done.

Meanwhile in a medium sized bowl fold in your green onions into your cream cheese.   I then add the potatoes in the with the cream cheese and onion (or use same pot) and smash with a potato masher.

I like mine just a tad on the chunky side.  While doing so add your remaining ingredients folding them in well.

Add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve immediately. 

Yum to the Yum.

Serves 10

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Karo Syrup - New Year's Eve Recipe Contest

Holiday presents don't need to be store bought or expensive to be meaningful. Homemade gifts are perfect for gift-giving and spreading holiday cheer. This year, Karo has partnered with Chicago pastry chef and cookbook author Sarah Levy to create delicious treats that are the perfect gift to give this holiday season.


Karo Syrup wants to celebrate all holiday baking recipes including yours! Folks who share their favorite recipe to bake in Karo's Recipe Sweepstakes are entered to win a special New Year's Eve package in Chicago, including a two-night stay at the Wit Hotel, dinner at Mastro's Steakhouse and a chocolate tour!  That sounds divine doesn't it?  I would love to win a vacation!

To grab all the details, visit the "Tis the Season" tab at www.Facebook.com/KaroSyrup to share your recipe and enter to win this fabulous trip and see some of Sarah Levy's favorite holiday recipes.





"Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Karo Syrup prize package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place. All opinions are my own."

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Betty Crocker's Holiday Trends

Happy Holidays Time-2-Eaters! Right about now, you´re probably gearing up for a wonderful holiday season filled with great family, great friends, and of course, great food!
Wants some inspiration in the kitchen? Check out Betty Crocker´s Red Hot Holiday Trends 2011! The food experts at Betty Crocker have selected trends that will be red hot this holiday season, and have created delicious recipes to bring each one to life. These fun and delicious recipes are sure to fire up any holiday event, and keep you toasty and warm for the New Year ahead.

	Trend: Double Desserts Taking two desserts and mixing and mashing them together is one of our favorite trends. Things like pie shakes, cookie stuffed cookies, and pie-filled cupcakes deliver a whole new kind of delicious. It´s a 1+1=3 kind of thing. Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cookies Pie, meet cookie. Cookie, say hello to pie. When two all-time favorites come together, you get Pumpkin Pie Cookies, the star at your next holiday cookie exchange.
	Trend: Boozy Baking From booze cakes to cocktail pies, bakers everywhere are bringing the bar into the kitchen. A titch of tequila or a skosh of scotch whiskey adds a serious shot of fun and flavor for the over 21 crowd. We´re loving these boozy baked goods! Recipe: Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes Taste for yourself what the buzz is all about! A bit of bourbon, a hit of coffee liqueur and some vanilla vodka-spiked frosting make these sophisticated chocolate cupcakes the ultimate "holiday helpers."
	Trend: Color. Flavor. Fun. Traditional baked goods are being transformed with bright colors and playful flavors. With a little creativity and imagination, no one can resist this happy, fun food! Recipe: Cake Batter Cookie Stackers Take sugar cookies to a whole new level of delicious! Kids and adults will love these cake batter flavored cookies with colorful frosting, and lots of sprinkles! Stack `em up and watch `em go.
	Trend: From Cave to Kitchen Forget the man cave. Today guys are in the kitchen making (or at least appreciating) really good food. Big food. Really good, big food that´s stacked and stuffed with the flavors they can´t resist. Recipe: Mantastic Fried Chicken `n´ Waffle Sandwich Here´s a new take on chicken `n´ waffles - made better with beer, bacon, and bourbon. It´s the ultimate manly man meal.
	Trend: Skinny Cocktails Here´s the skinny! Drinking high-calorie cocktails is so last year. The modern mixologist is shaking things up with light & flavorful cocktails. Recipe: Skinny Clementine Martini Add some clever sparkle to your next party. Enjoy these natural, light martinis made with fresh juice, high-quality liquor, and a splash of club soda. Lower calorie cocktails never tasted, or looked, so sweet. Cheers!
	Trend: Better Than Bought From canning to candy making, there´s a renewed interest in handcrafted foods. This season, homemade food gifts are just the right thing to show your care and creativity. Recipe: Cajeta Caramel Fudge Create the perfect combination of flavor and crunch with this homemade candy. Rich chocolate fudge layered with cajeta caramel, cashews and a sprinkle of sea salt-a recipe to impress.
	Trend: Veggie Love Once just tolerated, vegetables are now celebrated. Omnivores and herbivores alike have discovered that veggies offer variety and great taste, and are feeling the love. Recipe: Sweet Potato Hummus Hummus with fresh sweet potato packs even more plant power. Add a delicious blend of smoked paprika, coriander, and cumin to make this flavorful dip.
	Trend: Shareworthy & Allergen-Friendly Allergen-friendly foods may be free from things like nuts, dairy and eggs, but shouldn´t be free from flavor. Thankfully, we´re seeing new foods and recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone - whether you´re allergy-sensitive or not. Recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread Gather everyone around the table to enjoy this moist and delicious pumpkin bread. Made with no nuts, no dairy, no eggs, and no gluten - no kidding!
	Trend: D-I-Y for D-O-G Man´s best friend deserves man´s best effort. That´s why making your own dog food is one of the latest canine crazes! This year, homemade dog treats are at the top of fido´s list. Recipe: Dog Bark This treat will make your dog sit up and beg for more. Make the bark by melting carob chips and peanut butter then top with your dog´s favorite ingredients - bacon and cheese. Bow WOW!
	Trend: Food Craft The kitchen is the new craft room. With food as their medium, clever cooks are making amazing edible food crafts that are as good to look at as they are to eat. Recipe: Chocolate Coal Lumps Naughty or nice, everyone will love these easy cho-coal-late treats. Cocoa Puffs® cereal dipped in melted chocolate and marshmallows create these tasty stocking stuffers.

If you have the chance to try some of these hot holiday trends with your family or friends, I'd love to know which ones you tried!



Discloseure - I received details for the above post from Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark!

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Mrs. Renfro's Review/Giveaway CLOSED

Most of you who have read the blog for awhile know how much of a snack/appetizer junkie I am.  We are equally football fans as well and love to try new things for game day some of which are indeed salsas.  I recently tried Mrs. Renfro’s salsa which I let the family test drive on football Sunday.  They proved to be a hit!  I tried four equally unique flavors: Tequila Salsa, Chipotle Corn, Garlic Salsa and Ghost Pepper Salsa.

The Ghost Pepper Salsa (made from the hottest pepper in the world) is one of their newest and hottest salsas.  I like heat so I was game for trying this and indeed it’s that hot!  So hot in fact that the little one didn't try it at all.  I eventually added this salsa to a cheese dip to help tame the heat and even then it was still that hot!  I can certainly see why they won awards with this one.  This is a salsa for those who thrive for the heat and like to live on the edge!  

The favorite of my little one (who doesn’t care for heat) was the Tequila Salsa (Tequila, lime juice, salt) which is indeed made with Tequila.  I actually thought this one had a sweet taste without any hint of heat at all.  I think it’s a great tasting salsa for those who can’t do medium or mild. 

My personal favorite was the Garlic Salsa (fresh garlic and fire-roasted garlic puree).  This is just the perfect concoction of all things I like in salsa.  The garlic is tasty but not overpowering.  It’s not too sweet and not too hot.    It was also the flavor that disappeared first! 

The Chipotle Corn Salsa (Fresh onion, corn, chipotle and ancho peppers) has a nice smoky flavor to it.   I think this is a good one for those who want to switch things up a bit and stray from the average salsa flavor.  I think this would be a good candidate for many of Mrs. Renfro's recipes.

All of these have the right amount of juice, chunk and flavor to them and are equally great to add into your favorite dishes. You can also take a peak at the many different recipes in which you can experiment with in the kitchen using the different salsas.

Giveaway - One lucky reader will win Mrs Renfro's salsas (4 flavors) of their very own of any flavor they wish!  Giveaway ends 12/15/2011 at midnight EST and winner will be chosen via random.org.

Winner choateorama@......

Disclosure - I received the above mentioned item. The opinions expressed are my own.

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