This Full House Reviews

A Hungarian's Recipe for Hungarian Gulash: You Say Goulash, I Say Gulyas - Let's Just Call it Soup!

This is what Hungarian Gulyas (a.k.a. Gulash, Goulash) is supposed to look like (for real!)

You may or may not know that my twin brother Steve and I are first generation born Americans. 

Yep, we grew up in the kitchen, breathing in the delicious aromas of my mother's and grandmother's Hungarian cooking.

Feel free to trust me when I tell you that there is absolutely NOTHING better than a big old steaming bowl of happiness, served up with some crusty bread, on a cold, wet, gloomy, or slightly sad sort of day.

Hungarian comfort food, baby!

You know that reddish-brown-gravy-laden stew-type dish served over noodles and featured as "Hungarian Goulash" in cookbooks and cooking magazines?

Nope, that is actually called Pörkölt (purr-curlt) although, also filed under Hungarian comfort food, it is very versatile and can be prepared using beef, veal, lamb or chicken (a.k.a. chicken paprikash!)

Gulyas (ghoul-yah-sh) on the other hand, is a soup.

Backstory:  Gulya in Hungarian means herdsman, or cowboy.  Gulyas (a.k.a. Gulash, Goulash) means "of the herdsman," who would have prepared this dish in a cast iron pot hitched over a stone fire pit while working the puszta (pooh-stuh) or the Hungarian prairie, if you will.

Although, they probably didn't include dumplings in their recipe (I don't think.)

I mentioned something on Facebook about making Hungarian Gulyas (et al) yesterday and then promised to share my family's recipe here with everyone, too!

So, to set the record straight:

Our Favorite Holiday Treat: Heather's Cranberry Apple Bread & Giveaway

Thanks to International Delight for sponsoring my writing about our family's holiday traditions. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win a $200 Walmart gift card from Blog Frog.

The kids and I get so FIRED UP this time of year -- especially, when it comes to homemade treats -- we ALL have such GRAND plans about baking just about every cookie imaginable and gifting them to family and friends.

Then, before we know it, it's Christmas Eve and, well, you know.

Then again, that's what attending church bake sales and those last minute Hail Mary runs to [insert your favorite local bakery, here]are for, right?

There is one baked treat, however, that remains a favorite family tradition, beginning on Thanksgiving Eve and carrying us right through to January 6th, or what my parents call, "Little Christmas."

It just wouldn't be the holidays without my almost-16-year old daughter Heather's awesome Cranberry Apple Bread.

#CostcoPork Recipe Challenge & Giveaway: Slow-Roasted Rack of Pork, Served Good JuJu Style

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  So happy to be sharing this awesome prize with you, Elena (comment #37) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

Earlier this week, I shared some great ways families (like mine) can save on the very extravagent looking, yet budget-friendly rack of pork at Costco.

Throughout the month of October, bloggers (like me) have been challenged by TheMotherHood, Costco AND the National Pork Board to create a recipe, using different cuts of pork.

Today, I had the pleasure of preparing Sunday dinner for the grandparents and tested out my recipe -- YES!  I warned them, ahead of time AND they decided to come over, anyway!

Now that the dishes are done (mostly) and in celebration of National Pork Month, I'm very happy to have the chance to share with you my recipe for Slow-Roasted Rack of Pork with Honey Mustard & Balsamic Fig Glaze.

In keeping with my Hungarian roots (my parents immigrated to America in 1956) I will be preparing it again, during the holidaze, as pork is traditionally served on New Year's Day for good luck!

Heaven knows we could ALL use some extra good JuJu, right?!?

Plus, I'm hosting a $25.00 Costco Cash Giveaway to one (1) of our online friends, because we roll like that!

Incorporating DHA Omega-3's into Your Holiday Baking: Apple Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding

 

Thanks to Horizon Dairy for sponsoring my writing about incorporating Omega-3's into everyday recipes. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win a $500.00 grocery shopping spree (WHOOT!)

Have you seen those milk and/or egg cartons with the DHA or Omega-3 label on them?

"Will it cause me to grow a third nipple, or something?"

Sorry, my husband, Garth (not his real name) was trying to be funny and, honestly, I couldn't help but start giggling, right there, in the dairy aisle of our supermarket.

However, as parents, we both realize the importance of knowing the foods our children are getting and, at the very least, be able to find out what in the heck those labels really mean.

Thanks to my partnership with Horizon Dairy, I had the opportunity to do so and, although I am NOT a food and/or nutritional expert (don't worry, my family already knows and is totally okay with it) I am more than happy to share what I've learned about the DHA Omega-3.

Apple Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding

Also, share a recipe featuring our favorite go to Omega-3 rich foods: eggs and milk.

What is DHA?

National Pork Month at Costco: What IS the Right Temp for Rack of Pork Anyway?

Did you know that October is National Pork Month?  Me, either.  To think, we ALMOST missed it (snort!)

Honestly, pork is one of the few meals that ALL four of my kids will eat (on purpose!) it's budget-friendly and pretty easy to cook, too.

In fact, barbecued pork pulled sandwiches is my family's favorite go to meal and I've got a great recipe for cooking a pork loin dinner, in about 30 minutes, in the microwave.

Throughout the month, bloggers (like me) have been challenged by TheMotherHood, Costco AND the National Pork Board to create a recipe, using different cuts of pork.

[pulls up sleeves, blows bangs out of eyes]

I've accepted, thinking, no problem, then was assigned Rack of Pork and was, all, like, what?!?Did you know that pork rib roast is also referred to as rack of pork (it also may be labeled center-cut pork loin or crown roast) and okay, so, they're like, unchopped pork chops, right?!?

[sound of crickets, chirping]

Yeah, THIS should be fun. Later this week, I'll be sharing my recipe for rack of pork, you know, when, hopefully, I'll have come up with one (DOH!) and a $25.00 gift card to Costco, as well.

In the meantime, here are some really great pork recipes, tips and the 15 other #CostcoPork bloggers I'm competing against, this week:

Our Favorite Oscar Mayer Bacon Creation Week Recipe & Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  I am SO HAPPY to be able to share this awesome package with you, Meg (comment #110) please check your email for instructions, thanks!!!

In celebration of Oscar Mayer's Bacon Creation Week (hey, it's bacon, why not?) I was challenged to re-create our favorite family recipe, using bacon and, personally, it didn't take me long to decide on EXACTLY which one to share with you!

Bacon-wrapped Tenderloin of Beefy Goodness a la Garth (NHRN)

Considering, this meal is totally:

• One of my husband Garth's (not his real name) specialties
• Elegant enough to serve for any special occasion
• Yet easy enough to put together, just because
• Or, whenever beef tenderloin goes on sale at our supermarket.

Also, "beefy" (as my kids used to call it when they were little-er) is the one food they will ALL actually eat, you know, on purpose.

Not to mention, we also get to share a one year supply of Oscar Mayer Bacon along with a $125.00 AMEX gift card with one (1) of our online friends, too!

How cool is that, right?  Want some?

Snapware Fall Solutions Review & Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So happy to be sharing some really awesome stuff with you, Ferriz (comment #186) please check your mail for further instructions, thanks!!!

To be honest, with ALL the wet weather and Hurricane Irene wreaking havoc on our ceiling AND roof (UGH!) I'm sort of glad summer is over.  We're hoping to be able to get started on repairs, you know, before the snow comes.

[knocking on wood until knuckles bleed]

Yesterday, our 2 year-old water heater crapped out and, well, see tagline, in blog header, above (double-UGH!)

Needless to say, like most families, I'm continually on the look out for budget-friendly ways to better organize This Full House of cold showers and leaky walls.

My friends at Snapware sent us an awesome “Snapware Fall Solutions” kit with some of the brand’s latest (not even in stores yet!) re-usable, BPA-free, dishwasher-safe AND microwave-safe products.

Want to see?

Camping Indoors with S'mores

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:So excited to be able to share this awesome prize package with you, Julie L (comment #28) please check your email for further instructions, thanks !!!

Remember when I blogged about our celebrating S'mores season with Hershey's and The Motherhood, back in June?!?

[glances at calendar]

Okay, so, like where DID the summer go?!? 

It seems like only yesterday, we were celebrating the last day of school, right?!?

Did I mention that my second favorite holiday is the first day of school?!?

Just kidding (sort of!)

The kids and I really did have a GREAT time, this summer.  We were able to visit with family AND hang out at the beach with friends at two of our favorite vacation destinations: Cape Cod, MA and Cape May, NJ.

Now that summer is winding down and ALL four kids are going back-to-school, after Labor Day (bittersweet, I know!) we're sticking closer to home and enjoying late night camp outs by the fire pit, in our backyard.

Unless, a late summer thunderstorm shows up, pretty much out of nowhere (like it did, yesterday) and chases the kids back into the house...in less than 5 Mississippi's...me, too!

So, my daughters and I thought it would be fun to show you exactly how easy it is to go camping indoors with S'mores...anytime:

  

Camping indoors really is SO MUCH fun and the best thing about S'mores is that you can make them anywhere, anytime, no matter the weather, indoors AND out!

Want some?  EXCELLENT!!!

Keurig & Brew Over Ice (Yes, PLEASE!)

Last year, we took advantage of a great deal online and gifted my parents and inlaws each with a Keurig Brewer at Christmastime and, seeing as we already owned a Tassimo, found ourselves evangilizing the convenience of single cup brewers.

Both brewing systems certainly have their advantages:  Keurig k-cups being more readily available; no waiting for the Tassimo to heat up.

The fact that Keurig offers an insert called MY K-CUP that allows you to brew any coffee you want, or happen to have on hand, at the time, thus, making mornings that much easier, well, yeah, how cool is that, right?

So, you can imagine my excitement when we received a special summer care package from the good folks representing Keurig, that included the chance to test out their new Brew Over Ice K-Cup, as well.

Making iced coffee (or, tea) at home, is easy:

Family Dinner Fun LIVE CHAT! TONIGHT!

I am so excited to be teaming up with Sara from Saving for Someday to bring you a lively discussion about Family Dinner Fun. Join us on Monday, July 25th at 8pm Eastern/5pm Pacific to talk about ways to make eating together as a family not only a priority but something the kids will want to continue well into their teens.

Join us in The Horizon Dairy community on The BlogFrog to meet other parents to talk about food (of course) and chat about how to get the kids to engage and share, ways to make dinner time fun and so much more.

So, I hope you considering joining Sara and me at 8:00 p.m. for the Family Dinner Fun live chat -- it will be, you know, fun!!!

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure: As a Community Leader I am compensated for my time. My views are not edited. All opinions are my own.

Smoothing Our Way into Chillaxing Summertime Snacks

Now that my kids are older (me, too) we try to keep healthy snacks in the house -- especially, in the summertime -- and I absolutely love a super easy smoothie recipe!

I'm sharing it, right here.  Know any?

Join me over at BlogFrog, where we’re discussing healthy snacks at the Horizon Milk Community:

Horizon Organics Back-to-School Community

Yes, I know, it's like summertime only started, right? Still, I am super-excited to partner with the good folks at Horizon Organics as a community leader and announce the launch of Horizon's  Healthy Family Back-to-School Community hosted on The Blog Frog.

My mission is to kick-off discussions with online friends, like you (yes, YOU!) and, hopefully, share some useful tips in helping to make back-to-school as healthy (i.e. painless) as possible.

First, it is my pleasure to introduce you to the rest of the community leaders:

• Ewa from Delishh
• Wendy from Wendolonia
• Tonya from Tonya Staab
• Dagmar from Dagmar's Momsense
• Sommer from Green and Clean Mom
• Crystal from The Thrifty Mama
• Rachel from Surviving the Stores
• Sara from Saving for Someday
• Catherine from 3 Kids and Us
• Cheryl from Tidy Mom

Horizon Healthy Families officially launched, today (YAY!) we will be giving away a $500 Back to School Shopping Spree, Horizon swag, and Target Gift Cards in the community during July.

Look for sponsored conversations, guest chats and more great Back to School promotions is August and September, as well.

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS: 

Horizon on Facebook

@horizondairy on Twitter

Back to School Launch Party 7/14 9-10pm EST

$500 Shopping Spree - Grand Prize Discussion

If you're not doing anything on July 14th, I hope you'll consider joining me for the Back to School Launch Party.

Even if you are (honestly, who's not busy, right?) it's from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (EST) so, put those kids to bed, grab yourself a cool beverage and let's chat on ways we can ALL save money, stress less and, for heaven's sake, have some fun this summer!

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  I have been engaged by BlogFrog as a Horizon's Community Leader and am being compensated for my services for the length of the program.

Celebrating S'mores Season With Hershey's and The Motherhood

My kids love eating outdoors and swear food tastes MUCH better, in the summertime...me, too!

Sleeping, outside, in a tent, not so much.

2 of my kids want to go camping, the other half don't like bugs and thanks to having given birth to all 4, my sciatica doesn't allow me to, you know, do tents, anymore.

Still.  It warms my heart whenever the kids and I get a chance to do something (ANYTHING!) together. 

Even if it simply means kicking back in our back yard and roasting up a couple of marshmallows for another yummy batch of S'mores. 

Want some?

This summer, the Hershey Company is encouraging families to create their own S’mores memories with the Say S’mores Campaign:

Behind the Scenes: Consumer Reports Live Facebook Chat - How Do They Test Gas Grills?

We've had one of the wettest winters and springs (not to mention, weirdest weather patterns, EVER, this year) here, in Jersey (what, you too?)

I am SO ready to get in some serious backyard time, with the kids.

Because, you know, they swear I am a MUCH better cook, in the summertime.

Our grill, however, is borked (as in, so busted I have to use broken words to describe it) and, well, good thing my kids are old enough to roast their hot dogs over our fire pit.

Are you looking for a grill?  Or, do you Facebook?  EXCELLENT!!! 

Tomorrow (Thursday, May 26th) at 1:00 p.m. ET, Consumer Reports is opening their doors (sort of) by hosting a live Facebook chat to take consumers behind the scenes of how they test gas grills.

Do you Twitter, too?  AWESOME!!!

You will be able to interact with Consumer Reports testers and special guest food writer and chef Kenji Lopez-Alt (Managing Editor of Serious Eats) by submitting questions on Facebook and via Twitter with hashtag #CRGrills.

Here is the link directly to the live tab:
http://www.facebook.com/ConsumerReports?v=app_219399580587

For more information click here:
http://news.consumerreports.org/home/2011/05/live-from-the-labs-video-grill-chat.html

Until then, I'll be hitting Google (hard) to see what grill everyone else is using and, you know, liking it, too.  How about you?

[photo credit:  Consumer Reports]

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

DISCLOSURE:  No payment was received for this blog post.  Just sharing stuff perhaps other families (like mine) would like, too.

Kellogg's Eggo FiberPlus Waffles Review and Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: SO so happy to be sharing with Lisa (comment #70) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!!!

It's no secret, I am NOT a morning person.  Just ask my husband, Garth (not his real name)  who happens to be infuriatingly pleasant, as he hands me a cup of coffee (through the bathroom door) first thing in the morning and then, you know, runs away.

Smart man.

I had the pleasure of being contacted by the good folks representing Kellogg's about a new breakfast product and, well, seeing as I am a BIG fan of Brinner (breakfast for dinner) decided to give Eggo FiberPlus Buttermilk Waffles and Eggo FiberPlus Chocolate Chip Waffles a try -- after my first cup of coffee, of course!

Want some?