Categories
food

@Dancing Deer Baking Company Dessert Contest

We love brownies and we also love Dancing Deer Baking Company.   Now you have the chance to show off your creative baking talents with The Dancing Deer Baking Company’s “Crazy for Brownies!” Dessert Recipe Contest! Start with Dancing Deer’s all-natural Brownies and Squares – from “America’s Best” Chocolate Chunk Brownies to Caramel Sea Salt Squares and more - and then create your own masterpiece for a chance to win $250 and a year’s supply of Dancing Deer’s yummy brownies!

Entering is easy, just click on this link by November 6thhttps://www.facebook.com/DancingDeer/app_197602066931325 – to submit an original recipe. Once all the entries are in, Dancing Deer’s Master Baker Jennifer Shelley and celebrity judges Nicole Coady, Executive Pastry Chef with the award-winning Finale Desserterie & Bakery in Boston, and Sara Ross, Founder, Owner and Executive Chef of Kickass Cupcakes, will assign “brownie points” to each recipe for creativity, originality and taste, and narrow the field to the top four (4) contenders. Then The American public is invited to visit Dancing Deer’s Facebook page from November 15th-26th to cast their vote to determine the ultimate brownie dessert recipe Grand Prize winner.

So head on over to Dancing Deer and enjoy a 20% off discount.  Use code GOODIE.

Happy Baking!

Categories
food Products

Product Review: Bitsy’s Brainfood – the world’s first smart snack for kids

What a cute concept for a snack food for kids. Bitsy’s Brainfood are little treats to nurture kids’ bodies with unique flavor combinations. The adorable packaging and a fun web site make Bitsy’s Brainfood a company to check out.

These treats are made with natural organic ingredients and real fruits and veggies. They are available in 4 varieties: Zucchini Gingerbread Carrot, Sweet Potato Oatmeal Raisin, Orange Chocolate Beet and Lemon Broccoli.

The bite-sized treats are packed with the good stuff to help support developing bodies and brains, like vitamins and Omega-3 and folic acid with a good source of calcium,iron and whole grains. There are no GMO’s, preservatives, trans fats, artificial colors or flavors.

I had my older daughter test out the Lemon Broccoli with a friend and they said, “sounds yucky” but tested them out and then said,”broccoli? where?” They then proceeded to eat them by the handfuls. I thought it tasted like a yummy lemon cookie! My daughter said she would take them for snack!

Bitsy’s Brainfood was founded by Maggie Jones Patton and Alexandra Buckley Voris, two new moms who share a simple belief – healthy bodies and healthy minds are connected and learning to eat smart should be fun.
They are $2.49-2.79 per box at Wegmans, Diapers.com, FreshDirect, and Abe’s market (https://www.abesmarket.com). Check them out online

Yummy new snacks for kids: Bitsy’s Brainfood
Categories
food Products

Product Review: Bitsy’s Brainfood – the world’s first smart snack for kids

What a cute concept for a snack food for kids. Bitsy’s Brainfood are little treats to nurture kids’ bodies with unique flavor combinations. The adorable packaging and a fun web site make Bitsy’s Brainfood a company to check out.

These treats are made with natural organic ingredients and real fruits and veggies. They are available in 4 varieties: Zucchini Gingerbread Carrot, Sweet Potato Oatmeal Raisin, Orange Chocolate Beet and Lemon Broccoli.

The bite-sized treats are packed with the good stuff to help support developing bodies and brains, like vitamins and Omega-3 and folic acid with a good source of calcium,iron and whole grains. There are no GMO’s, preservatives, trans fats, artificial colors or flavors.

I had my older daughter test out the Lemon Broccoli with a friend and they said, “sounds yucky” but tested them out and then said,”broccoli? where?” They then proceeded to eat them by the handfuls. I thought it tasted like a yummy lemon cookie! My daughter said she would take them for snack!

Bitsy’s Brainfood was founded by Maggie Jones Patton and Alexandra Buckley Voris, two new moms who share a simple belief – healthy bodies and healthy minds are connected and learning to eat smart should be fun.
They are $2.49-2.79 per box at Wegmans, Diapers.com, FreshDirect, and Abe’s market (https://www.abesmarket.com). Check them out online

Yummy new snacks for kids: Bitsy’s Brainfood
Categories
food Products

How to stay organized at home and at school

Moms listen up:  the kids have been at school so you need to get organizing!  Here are some great products that can help kids stay organized at home and at school and help mom too!

  • First you need a home/family calendar in a central location to keep the kids (and mom) organized. From Calendars.com we love the School Days Weekly Perpetual Dry Erase Wall Calendar. It is great and easy to use. Simply mark up the week’s or month activities, hang in a central location and make sure everyone sees it! We just love all their calendars as they have the best selection!  When the kids are at school they still need a small calendar to keep them organized.  Especially for tween girls the Taylor swift calendar is the best as is it slim and has a mirror! Perfect for the locker.

 

  • Locker organization is key and especially for middle school girls they want their lockers to look good! Thank goodness for lockerlookz.com They have the most colorful locker decorations from the locker rug to wall paper to mirrors and even a chandelier that lights up. What could be better than a jazzed up locker? My sixth grader was very excited about the look of her locker after these accessories make a gray locker look much brighter!

 

  • Also, moms to stay organized and know which sweatshirt is which child’s – LABEL EVERYTHING! We love the Name Bubbles School Pack. It has 88 personalized labels for $33.88. These very colorful labels are great for clothes and backpacks and are washable so stick them on water bottles, clothes and lunch bags.

 

  • Speaking of backpacks – every year we try a different one but still come back to the LL Bean backpacks and lunch boxes. They are the best – nice compartments – great to keep kids organized – In each childs’ backback I put Kleenex tissues  (love the new slimmer packaging and new color),  my favorite hand sanitizer – Cleanwell as it’s a spray and they also have wipes and of course my kids favorite snack – Nature’s path crunchy granola bars! Natures path has everything moms could want for breakfast too – from granola to oatmeal and frozen waffles. The taste of the maple  cinnamon waffles is to die for!
  • To organize your kids desk at home organized I love the items from Lakeshore Learning.com. The writing center caddy is perfect for a desk and the carry-all teachers caddy is great if you don’t have a desk and have to store items or carry them from room to room.   Lakeshore has unique children’s products developed by teachers that make learning FUN!

 

  • Also discovered these products from UM brands –Hook Um products great for hanging items by kids desk or even for the mudroom – perfect to color coordinate!

 

  • To keep mom organized and have dinners and snacks ready, Go picnic.com has ready to eat snack and lunch items that are prepackaged and ready to go!  GoPicnic  is the leader in great-tasting ready-to-eat meal solutions that are pre-packaged, require no refrigeration or preparation. They’re great for school (especially when mom does not feel like making lunch), in-between activities, traveling and snacking on the go because they are portable nutritious, tasty meals that are light weight, easy to carry in backpacks and keep kids fueled for their day.  Also, each product is individually wrapped to avoid wastage and cross-contamination. Products also run the gamut from gluten-free to Kosher to vegan for children with food allergies. Each meal has five products, including a protein, whole grains, fruit and sweet treat for dessert. You can even eat some for lunch and others for snacks. Each GoPicnic meals is under 500 calories and contains no trans fats, high fructose corn syrup or added MSG, and no artificial colors or flavors.  I have to say these did not last in our house very long!  I especially loved the Salami + Cheese and Peanut Butter + Crackers. I also loved that they came with a sweet treat – one with a dark chocolate square and the other with a chocolate cookie!]

 

  • Founded by two parents, MightyNest is an online store, resource center, and community dedicated to helping parents create healthy, safe homes. They offer products that are free from known toxic ingredients such as BPA, PVC, Phthalates, Lead, Melamine, Formaldehyde, Parabens, and more – the perfect place to shop online to know that all your products are safe – it’s a no brainer to shop here.  A few great items we love are the ice pack and sweat free cover from kids conserve. My kids hate it when all the items in their lunch bag gets all soggy and wet – try this product and no more complaints!  We also love the thinksport water bottle as it keeps water cold and it has an easy to fill wide mouth – no more stuffing ice cubes in a small opening! Another must have from this site is the Duo Stainless Steel Food Container by Lunchbots.  They are great for lunch and snacks and better for the environment.
  • Stephen Joseph   has adorable kid’s school items that help kids and mom stay organized… from great backpacks, lunch boxes to pencil cases, folders, pencils… the list goes on and on. We especially love the matching ice packs and reusable snack bags. Choose from adorable prints like the monkey or soccer ball.
  • This was the must have for me this school season to keep the cooking organized, neat and under control!  The George Foreman Grill is a must have. My husband does all the grilling so when he travels I needed something inside that was easy to use and easy to clean. The Next Grillerationâ„¢ by George Foreman offers a  a 72 Sq. In. grill surface has room for grilling four servings at once. There is no need for butter or oils thanks to the nonstick coating. When you’re done, remove the plates and clean them in the dishwasher – a much healthier way to cook!

 

 

Disclosure:  All items mentioned above were sent to me for review. All opinions are my own.

Categories
food

Summer Snacking

My kids tend to snack more in the summer but then again I am always on the lookout for new items for them to snack on during the school year, during the school day and on the way to sporting events etc. I try to look for healthy snacks!

I love these new Honey Maid Grahamfuls and so do my kids! They are Honey Maid brand graham crackers filled with either peanut butter, peanut butter & chocolate and banana vanilla creme.  They are made with 100% whole grain and are a good source of calcium and made without high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors. These tasty treats are affordable too at $4.59 a box at most stores.  Part cookie, part graham sandwich treat,  they taste great!

We always put peanut butter on our graham crackers so these new treats are pre-packaged and ready to go – perfect for the busy family – like me!

Disclosure:  Kraft Foods sent me three boxes of the grahamfuls along with a backpack to test out. All opinions are my own.

 

Categories
Events food

Eating for a good cause @MaggianosBoston @MakeAWish

I love a good lunch (and dinner too) and what is better than lunch or dinner for a cause?  Maggiano’s Little Italy in Boston is hosting “Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish” now until June 27. For each new “LIKE” Maggiano’s receives on Facebook during the campaign, $1 will be donated to Make-A-Wish, up to $25,000. Visit https://a.wish.org/Maggianos61112.

There are several ways you can help:

1. Eat from the  “Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish®” menu.  Maggiano’s will donate $1 per food item and $.50 per drink to Make-A-Wish®. I loved the Fresh Berry Tiramisu!

2. Make a star card donation – guests can purchase for an amount of their choosing with 100 percent of funds going directly to Make-A-Wish®

3. Purchase the wish list compilation CD  – The “Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish” campaign has the first-ever “The Wish List” CD. It has the best selections from the music in Maggiano’s restaurants (think Frank Sinatra, etc). Purchase it in the restaurant next time you are there for $7.90.

 

Maggiano’s is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston and is very kid friendly.  Today I had my favorite – the Maggiano’s salad – love the crispy prosciutto and the eggplant parmesan is the best.  I have heard the chicken romano and veal meatball bolognese is pretty good too! Stop by and dine in for a good cause.

Disclosure:  I was treated to lunch, received a gift card and CD. All opinions are my own.

 

Eat-A-Dish for Make a Wish Menu

 

 

Categories
Events food

Eating for a good cause @MaggianosBoston @MakeAWish

I love a good lunch (and dinner too) and what is better than lunch or dinner for a cause?  Maggiano’s Little Italy in Boston is hosting “Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish” now until June 27. For each new “LIKE” Maggiano’s receives on Facebook during the campaign, $1 will be donated to Make-A-Wish, up to $25,000. Visit https://a.wish.org/Maggianos61112.

There are several ways you can help:

1. Eat from the  “Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish®” menu.  Maggiano’s will donate $1 per food item and $.50 per drink to Make-A-Wish®. I loved the Fresh Berry Tiramisu!

2. Make a star card donation – guests can purchase for an amount of their choosing with 100 percent of funds going directly to Make-A-Wish®

3. Purchase the wish list compilation CD  – The “Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish” campaign has the first-ever “The Wish List” CD. It has the best selections from the music in Maggiano’s restaurants (think Frank Sinatra, etc). Purchase it in the restaurant next time you are there for $7.90.

 

Maggiano’s is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston and is very kid friendly.  Today I had my favorite – the Maggiano’s salad – love the crispy prosciutto and the eggplant parmesan is the best.  I have heard the chicken romano and veal meatball bolognese is pretty good too! Stop by and dine in for a good cause.

Disclosure:  I was treated to lunch, received a gift card and CD. All opinions are my own.

 

Eat-A-Dish for Make a Wish Menu

 

 

Categories
food

Parfait anyone?

I am not one to write about recipes (we all know I cannot cook!) But I have to share this “dessert” my kids just love. I enjoy this treat for breakfast and make it for an after dinner treat for my kids and they love it too.  I think the parfait cups are what makes it the most wanted “treat” in my household. Plus, it’s healthy as I make it with fruit and nuts! So here is the recipe and photo!

Yogurt Parfait

1/2 cup Stoneyfield low fat french vanilla yogurt in a cup

Sprinkle a small amount of granola (we like Stop & Shop Nature’s Promise brand granola – any kind but the Banana Nut one is great)

Add some sliced almonds

Add frozen small blueberries and/or mango chunks (we also like the mini ones – Wyman’s of Maine. Actually eating them frozen by themselves is a treat too)

I will then add a few mini chocolate chips at the top

Enjoy!

Categories
food Uncategorized

Parfait anyone?

I am not one to write about recipes (we all know I cannot cook!) But I have to share this “dessert” my kids just love. I enjoy this treat for breakfast and make it for an after dinner treat for my kids and they love it too.  I think the parfait cups are what makes it the most wanted “treat” in my household. Plus, it’s healthy as I make it with fruit and nuts! So here is the recipe and photo!

Yogurt Parfait

1/2 cup Stoneyfield low fat french vanilla yogurt in a cup

Sprinkle a small amount of granola (we like Stop & Shop Nature’s Promise brand granola – any kind but the Banana Nut one is great)

Add some sliced almonds

Add frozen small blueberries and/or mango chunks (we also like the mini ones – Wyman’s of Maine. Actually eating them frozen by themselves is a treat too)

I will then add a few mini chocolate chips at the top

Enjoy!

Categories
food

Parfait anyone?

I am not one to write about recipes (we all know I cannot cook!) But I have to share this “dessert” my kids just love. I enjoy this treat for breakfast and make it for an after dinner treat for my kids and they love it too.  I think the parfait cups are what makes it the most wanted “treat” in my household. Plus, it’s healthy as I make it with fruit and nuts! So here is the recipe and photo!

Yogurt Parfait

1/2 cup Stoneyfield low fat french vanilla yogurt in a cup

Sprinkle a small amount of granola (we like Stop & Shop Nature’s Promise brand granola – any kind but the Banana Nut one is great)

Add some sliced almonds

Add frozen small blueberries and/or mango chunks (we also like the mini ones – Wyman’s of Maine. Actually eating them frozen by themselves is a treat too)

I will then add a few mini chocolate chips at the top

Enjoy!