This Full House Reviews

A Healthier Holiday Table: Surviving the Holidaze With Heather's Cranberry Applesauce Bread

When my kids were younger, we would countdown the holidays with how many more sleeps were left until Christmas Day.  Now that they're older (ditto) they seem to be just as excited (if not more) counting down the days until winter break.

In our house, we are also celebrating the season of birthdays (3 out of 4 of my children celebrate birthdays in November, December and January) or, what I've come to fondly refer to as, the holidaze.

 This time last year, I had the pleasure of working with the American Cancer Society on their Less Cancer, More Birthdays campaign.  This year, I have the honor of being invited to participate in their A Healthier Holiday Table campaign:  a handy repository of holiday recipes, to help raise awareness about and promote healthier eating -- which I'm beginning to understand is an important preventative measure to fighting cancer.

With 4 females in the house (UTI's are the devil) we're pretty big on cranberries -- antioxidant superstars, they are -- most especially, this time of year.   

I'm sharing my middle girl's awesome recipe for Cranberry Applesauce Bread:   swapping out HALF the butter and uses apple sauce instead.

Our good friends at the ACS have provided us with some really useful information on the relation of nutrition to cancer prevention to share with you, as well:

Breakfast for Dinner: Rice Krispies'd Chicken Fingers Recipe & Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  We are SO happy to be able to share this awesome prize with you DeAnn S (comment #41) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

I am honored to be a Champions of Great Starts featured blogger and for their sponsoring this blog post, since Kellogg's is the cereal I grew up with and now is the breakfast that starts my family's day off right.  Leave your comment here for a chance to win a year supply of Kellogg's breakfast cereals!

Kellogg's Rice Krispies'd Chicken Fingers

Did you know that September is National Breakfast Month?  Okay, I know, I know, seems like most days of the year are proclaimed as "food holidays" and would you believe that it happens to be National Chicken Month too?

AWESOME!!!  Considering we ARE big on breakfast for dinner (or brinner) I thought it would be fun to share with you our easy-peasy family recipe for homemade chicken fingers, with a breakfast twist.

We were out of bread crumbs (note to self:  remember to actually bring the shopping list, to the store, with you!) so I grabbed our brandy new food chopper (or, chop-puh if you're from Jersey) gifted to me by my good friend Melisa (a.k.a. Suburban Scrawl, you should be reading her) and coated the chicken fingers with Rice Krispies cereal.

Want to see?  EXCELLENT!!!

Foodie Tuesday: Recipe for Hungarian Plum Dumplings (Szilvásgombóc)

Taste of my childhood:  szilvásgombóc (plum dumplings)!

Every year, around late August or whenever Italian prune plums were in season, Anyu (mom, in Hungarian) would cook up a batch of  these sweet, juicy little puppies and ALL would be right with the world.

Yesterday, it was MY turn.

Anyu is recovering from shoulder replacement surgery (my parents are quickly becoming the bionic grandparents) so, I decided to surprise my folks with a batch of our family's favorite late summer treat:  plum dumplings.

The rolled-out dough is made with mashed potatoes and, according to my kids, the szilvásgombóc turned out to be a GREAT SUCCESS!  Here's the recipe:

BlogHer12: Caution, Professional Dork at Work!

Tracey, Me, Melisa and OH LOOK! It's freakin' Busy Mom at #BBSummit12

I love traveling to blogging conferences and when people ask me, "What IS it that you do again?" I half-jokingly reply about my being a Professional Dork, by definition:

• A little odd
• Often times silly
• Extremely clumsy
• Breaks things (a lot!)
• Prone to laugh-snorting
• Jumping jack hating
• Careful to cross her legs when sneezing
• Average, every day, you just can't make this stuff up, dork of a mom

In other words:  what you see is what you get and, well, it's our imperfections that make us unique...most especially, in the blogging world...yes?

That being said, I feel blessed to be able to work with some of the smartest, kindest, funniest folks I've ever had the pleasure of meeting (IRL) and touched upon this while speaking on the Blogger and Brand Relationships panel during #BBSummit12 last weekend.

I'm still working on a blog-worthy recap (soon-ish, rather than later-ish) but my friend and BlogHer12 roomie Michelle actually live-blogged the whole shuh-bang AND my sistuh-from-anuh-thuh-muh-thuh Melisa shared her experience as one of the awesome organizers, as well.

Today, I am honored to be able to share with you my partnering with Readers Digest and Taste of Home Magazine during BlogHer12.

I will be live-tweeting from the Reader's Digest BlogHer Suite #4203 as:

Foodie Tuesday: Berry Yogurt Waffles

Berry (or, whatever type is in your fridge at the moment) Yogurt Waffles

Me:  I'm thinking fresh blueberry waffles and bacon for dinner.

ALL 3 of my girls:  YAY!!!

Son: Okay, but I'm more excited about the bacon.

My son prefers pancakes and didn't want to waste a good breakfast for dinner (a.k.a. brinner) on "a bunch of boring waffles!" 

So, I asked him "What if I could make waffles more exciting?!?" 

He had his doubts (me, too!) however, these pancake-like waffles went down REAL easy and were very simple to make:

COOL WHIP: Slow-Foamy-Melt Espresso on a Sunday Afternoon

Espresso set purchased from very near my mother's village in Mosonmagyarovar, Hungary; needlepoint via my grandmother's kitchen in Erzsebet, a province of Budapest.

My parents emigrated from Hungary in 1956 as teenagers and adapted fairly quickly to life here in America.

They met each other a few years later on a blind date, married and, even after my twin brother and I were born, kept a lot of their "old world" customs, including a love for Hungarian home cooking, growing their own vegetables and celebrating weekend family gatherings.

Every Sunday my mother, grandmother and I would have dinner on the table by noon (sometimes, as early as 11:30 in the morning) one of the few times during the week we would actually be able to sit together, talk and eat, as a family.

Even now, weekends just wouldn't be the same without a big pot of homemade chicken soup boiling away on the stove or the smell of freshly-brewed espresso wafting through the kitchen after dinner.

My mother would freeze COOL  WHIP whipped topping for her espresso, savoring the "slow-foamy-melt" and insisting it to be the perfect treat for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Today, my kids enjoy COOL WHIP as an everyday treat -- especially, when visiting with their grandparents -- although, orders of slow-foamy-melt espresso are pretty much reserved for Sunday afternoons, when things tend to slow down a little (okay, A LOT!) at our house, anyways.

Some of you may prefer to try a dollop of frozen COOL WHIP:

• With a hot cup of flavored coffee of your choosing
• Slow-melts over iced coffee, very nicely
• Sprinkle frozen COOL WHIP on a spoon with powdered chocolate, crushed candy bar(s) or chocolate/rainbow sprinkles and serve with hot beverage of choice
• Cut frozen COOL WHIP into shapes
• Blend frozen COOL WHIP with strawberries for a summertime treat
• Layer (parfait style) with broken up pieces of chocolate brownie
• Sandwich frozen COOL WHIP in between honey or chocolate graham crackers (MY favorite treat as a kid)

You can also simply search for "frozen COOL WHIP recipes" on Pinterest or enjoy it straight from the tub (ahem) no judging. 

Go ahead, I'll wait.

In the meantime, thank you for visiting my shopping blog.  Be sure to visit and/or subscribe to my parenting & personal blog, ThisFullHouse.com (when you have time, of course!) or stop by and just say, "Hey!" 

We'll leave the porch light on for you, just in case.

© 2003 - 2012 This Full House

Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor.   Advertisers do not produce the content. I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.

International Delight Special Coffee Moments: A.K.A. Self-Imposed Time-Outs {Sponsored Giveaway}

Shhhhhhh...another quiet time at the kitchen table.

Yesterday, I blogged about how this week marks the official last week, before the last week, of the last week of school and how my kids have already checked out...mentally...as of last week...me, too.

With 4 kids, attending 4 different schools, I feel it safe to say that this is a very busy time for a lot of families and I mean, like, holiday-crazy-busy.

This year, there is MUCH cause for celebration: my oldest's high school graduation, my youngest's 5th grade graduation, her 11th birthday AND Father's Day, ALL in the same week.

[takes deep breath, exhales, blows bangs out of eyes]

I really do treasure private little moments: especially, first thing in the morning, while the kids are still in school and the house is nice and quiet.

I brew myself a fresh cup of coffee(or, caw-fee if you're from Jersey) call first dibs on the computer, plug in some of my favorite music and recalibrate, if you will.

Then again, sipping on some French Vanilla iced coffee poolside (International Delight's French Vanilla coffee creamer is FAT FREE!) yeah, that sounds pretty gosh-darned good...right about now, too...c'mon summer break!!!

Now, it's your turn:

Enjoying a coffee at home will be even more special for 4 lucky winners! Enter to win $1000 toward your dream kitchen and an International Delight Coffee break Kit, by completing these two steps:

1) Re-pin my coffee moment photo on Pinterest

2) Come back! In the comment field below, tell me you pinned and share your special coffee moment.

FIND IT HERE: Check out International Delight's new Coffee Creamer packaging on Facebook!

Thank you for visiting my shopping blog.  Be sure to visit and/or subscribe to my parenting & personal blog, ThisFullHouse.com (when you have time, of course!) or stop by and just say, "Hey!" 

We'll leave the porch light on for you, just in case.

© 2003 - 2012 This Full House

jjjEnjoying coffee at home will be even more special for 4 lucky winners! Enter to win $1000 toward your dream kitchen and an International Delight Coffee Break Kit, by completing these two steps:

•1. Re-pin my coffee moment photo on Pinterest. (* this will clearly be defined by blogger)

•2. Come back! In the comment field below, tell me you pinned and share your special coffee moment.

This

ddddEnjoying coffee at home will be even more special for 4 lucky winners! Enter to win $1000 toward your dream kitchen and an International Delight Coffee Break Kit, by completing these two steps:

•1. Re-pin my coffee moment photo on Pinterest. (* this will clearly be defined by blogger)

•2. Come back! In the comment field below, tell me you pinned and share your special coffee moment.

ThisEnjoying coffee at home will be even more special for 4 lucky winners! Enter to win $1000 toward your dream kitchen and an International Delight Coffee Break Kit, by completing these two steps:

•1. Re-pin my coffee moment photo on Pinterest. (* this will clearly be defined by blogger)

•2. Come back! In the comment field below, tell me you pinned and share your special coffee moment.

This

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight June Sponsored Conversation. The opinions and text are all mine. International Delight Sweepstakes and Rules.

Foodie Tuesday: Michael Symon's Lemony Angel Food Cake - Yeah, It's a Keeper!

In other words, I made this and it did NOT suck!

I watched Michael Symon make this awesome recipe on The Chew during my mother's surgery last week and, although I absolutely adore Angel Food Cake AND Michael Symon, I had my doubts whether or not a dork (like me) could actually...you know...pull it off.

Considering I tripped over my father's walker...several times...and nearly taking someone's good eye out with my elbow (I talk with my hands, a lot, enough said) the hospital waiting room was filled with non-believers, as well.

We happened to have a lot of eggs in the house (they were on sale, so both my husband and I picked up extra) so, I decided to road test this recipe for Mother's Day weekend:

Foodie Tuesday: Recipe for One - Mostly Mexican Flat Bread Personal Pizza

Mostly Mexican Flat Bread Personal Pizza

CONFESSION:  although, I really do enjoy cooking -- especially, when hosting a get-together with family and friends -- it's sort of refreshing to know that my kids are at the age where they can pretty much fend for themselves, if need be.

Which is the reason why my husband and I try to keep a well-stocked pantry/fridge.

Also, comes in REAL handy when everyone else is out...working or having dinner somewhere else...and you find yourself home alone and feeling sort of...you know...hungry...but, don't feel like going food shopping...don't judge!

[peeks inside fridge]

So, what in the heck can I possibly do with:

• a package of whole wheat flat bread
• mozzarella cheese
• lettuce, onions, peppers and some chunky salsa leftover from last night's taco dinner
• an almost empty bottle of Riesling (optional)

Create the best danged Mexican (mostly) flat bread pizza...EVUH!...in less time than it takes to order take out.

[I just layered items, starting with salsa and drizzled top with a little olive oil, then baked at 400 degrees until melted and flat bread crisped up, nicely.]

I threw in two slices of Virginia ham, for good measure, because I am open-minded like that.

P.S.:  Aaaaand, even though the picture isn't very good (oldest borrowed my camera for a school project, dangit) it tasted really good, too (the pizza, not the camera!)

P.P.S.:  Recipe is kid-friendly, because they're going to have to learn how to cook for themselves, eventually, too, right?

© 2003 - 2012 This Full House

Horizon Healthy Families: What is your biggest food concern, to date?

HFC (high fructose corn syrup), pink slime, or artificial food color?   What's the next "big thing," it foods?  Then again, they are called additives for a reason, right?

Still, doesn't mean I necessarily want them in my sandwich, or trust that I know exactly everything that goes into the foods I am feeding my kids and that concerns me...a whole lot!

What is your biggest food concern, to date?

Join me as we discuss this very sensitive topic with the Horizon Healthy Families Community:

The Looneyspoons Collection Cookbook: Featuring Food Network Canada's Janet & Greta Podleski

JanetandGreta.com

I was contacted by Greta Podleski, the author (along with her sister, Janet) of the #1 bestselling cookbook in Canada called “The Looneyspoons Collection,” asking me if I'd be interested in reviewing TLC.

Greta and Janet also host a healthy cooking show on Food Network Canada called Eat, Shrink & Be Merry and, considering I've blogged my desire to look into more healthy-type subjects, I emailed Greta back letting her know:  I think TLC would be a real good fit for This Full House.

I said good fit!  Get it? 

[sound of crickets, chirping]

Aaaaanyway, these awesome ladies were kind enough to send me a copy of their cookbook, noting:

The cookbook is big, 400 pages with 325 recipes and tons of gorgeous food photos, plus hundreds of healthy eating, weight-loss and anti-aging tips thanks to Janet, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.

As a woman of a certain age (no, NOT the stone-age, DAMMIT!) I could certainly use all the anti-aging tips I can get my dish-pan hands on (note to self:  get that stupid dishwasher fixed, already) dammit.

[who let those stupid crickets in the house, anyways?]

Alright, I get it.  It's never too late to try and keep fit, right?  RIGHT?  Riiiiiiiiight. 

Like, in the chapter entitled, "Shrink Your Muffin Top" sharing simple tips of cutting back (by half) my arch-nemesis...sugar...BOO!  HISS!...with the law of diminishing returns:

Leftover Chicken Soup & Spaghetti Sauce Pizza

My husband and I don't mind leftovers:  partly because his father is from New England and both my in-laws were raised during the depression (i.e. frugal by force) and my parents having immigrated from Eastern Europe (see previous parenthesis).

Mostly, because food is just too gosh-darned expensive to throw out.

Our kids, however, are all, like, "But we ate spaghetti two days in a row!" and, well, dinnertime used to be SO MUCH easier when they were younger, you know?

Of course, my penchant for forgetting to take meat out of the freezer doesn't help: DANGIT!

I was foraging the fridge for dinner.  Pickings were slim:  What could I do with 1 baked bone-in chicken breast and a container of leftover spaghetti sauce?

Luck be a Cup of Coffee, Tonight: Keurig Coffee Maker & International Delight Giveaway

May the road rise to meet you...

I was raised in a very superstitious household where spilled salt and broken mirrors were considered unfavorable signs of bad things to come.

Being a very clumsy child, I was a cause of deep concern for my family (still am) and often times found myself the subject of one of my grandmother's homemade remedies, lucky charms or special requests to ancestors who were then assigned the task of becoming our guardian angels.

Do I believe in good luck? Well, there was this one time:

In the Kitchen: Cooked Blender Mayonnaise - Put to the Test

It's no secret, we are ALL trying to eat a little healthier or busting our buns to make our lives a little simpler, right?  You know what's cool, though?

When I actually get a chance to put ALL those good intentions to the test, totally by accident.

One of my kids was home sick from school, last week (I know, act surprised anyway) so, I made a big pot of chicken soup and then started prepping for chicken salad with the leftovers.

"Dangit, we are ALL OUT of mayonnaise!!!"

Source: incredibleegg.org via

I hit the internets and decided to try and make my own (yeah, I know, good luck with THAT one, right?) field-testing a recipe I found via IncredibleEgg.org.

So, how did THAT work out?  Surprisingly...very well...check it out:

Horizon Healthy Families Community

I am very happy to once again partner with the good folks at Horizon Organics as one of eleven community leaders in the Healthy Families Community hosted on The Blog Frog.

Our mission is to kick-off discussions with online friends, like you (yes, YOU!) by sharing some healthy recipes, exchange parenting advice and ultimately save money and time.

One of my favorite discussions, this week:  Healthy Families members are sharing their favorite home-cooked meals and looking for some great crock pot recipes.

Here are a few more snippets of other popular discussions, including an awesome chance to win a $200 Target Gift Card, going on right now in my community: