Pirate Booty Is the PerFect Snack for Talk Like A Pirate Day

September 19, 2013September 20, 2013 - brandy3

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received, products were provided for my review.

Today is “Talk Like A Pirate Day”, my kids have been running around saying arrrr give me ur buried treasure. LOL! When I don’t have any they make me walk the plank.
I cave in and give them their booty Pirate Booty, and they are happy.

Pirate Booty is aged white cheddar made from rice and corn, blended with white cheddar and baked to perfection.

My kids just love this snack, we have been using them as snacks for school or in lunch boxes. They are the perfect size and aren’t to messy. I love that they come in easy packaging and are trans fat and gluten free. So I don’t need to worry about my daughters snack while at school.

Stock up for Halloween and pass them out to trick or treaters. The 20 pack is available at Target centers now until the end of October, In stores only.

#BackToSchool Quick Healthy Breakfast Snack With #BelVita #SP

September 3, 2013September 1, 2013 - brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. Product was provided for my review.

When school starts there are going to be mornings, where we are rushing to get ready for school. I hate mornings like that but it does happen, we wake up late or just take to long with showers.

There are times my kids will not get enough breakfast to eat, before we have to run out and catch the bus. So I always have a breakfast snack on hand to give them, just in case.

The BelVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits are a great breakfast snack before school.

belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits are not only a tasty morning treat, they’re also a nutritious way to start your day. Made with ingredients like rolled oats and rye,

They come in two varieties:

Oats and Chocolate
Mixed Berry

**** These are so good, and a great snack to have on hand. The Oats and Chocolate is perfect for adults too, you can have your chocolate snack while still getting your oats. The Mixed Berry is also dairy free, so you don’t have to worry about allergies. We have a lactose allergy in our family so it was great to be able for us to all eat these breakfast biscuits.

Whats your go to breakfast snack?

Betty Crocker Potatoes are Getting the Ultimate Makeover GiveawayClosed

September 2, 2013October 22, 2013 - brandy3 370 Comments

Disclosure: Information product and additional gift pack have all been provided by Betty Crocker through My Blog Spark. All opinions are my own.

Betty Crocker is giving her potatoes and Hamburger Helper meals the ultimate makeover. Everything you need in a box to make a perfect dinner.

The varieties are:

Betty Crocker Ultimate Au Gratin Potatoes
Ultimate Chicken Helper Cheddar Broccoli
Ultimate Hamburger Helper Three Cheese Marinara
Ultimate Hamburger Helper Creamy Stroganoff
Ultimate Betty Crocker Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Ultimate Betty Crocker Cheddar Mashed potatoes

We had the Loaded Mashed Potatoes tonight which have bits of parsley, imitation bacon bits and cheddar cheese.

This is the potatoes before you add the cheese sauce.

After the cheese sauce is added. It actually looks like sweet smashed potatoes with the orange color. The potatoes were very good. They had the Betty Crocker mashed potto flavor with just a hint of cheese.

I really enjoyed it, but think it is better without gravy or any additional flavoring. My kids won’t eat mashed potatoes without gravy.

You can find Betty Crocker Ultimates in a store near you.

I am giving away a Betty Crocker Ultimates prize pack.

1 winner will receive:

1 box of Ultimate Hamburger Helper
1 box of Betty Crocker Ultimate Potatoes
3-piece bamboo serving bowls
Serving spoon
4 plates

To enter: Tell me which Ultimates you can’t wait to try?

Extra entries:

Subscribe to my feed- 10 entries

Blog about this giveaway-9 entries

Grab my button-8 entries

Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post-6 entries unlimited

Follow me on twitter-4 entries

Tweet this giveaway-3 entries (can be done daily)

Enter any of my other giveaways-2 entry

post this giveaway on Facebook-1 entry (can be done daily)

Contest ends 10/5/13

#BackToSchool With Milk In Your Lunchbox #MilkUnleashed #SP

September 1, 2013August 29, 2013 - brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: No formal compensation was received for this post. Products were provided for my review. All opinions are my own.

I loved being in school and having the little milk cartons you could pick out and drink, even better when they started offering chocolate.

Now that my kids are in school they love being able to get their lunches at school and picking out their chocolate milk. Although, my daughter has brought to my attention that there have been a few times, that she received milk that was expired or expired that day.

Since then we have been packing a lunch or just packing Shelf Stable Milk. I love the idea of Shelf stable milk, no need to worry about it getting old or to warm in kids backpacks. No need to keep it cold. All they need to do is take the milk out and drink it with their lunch.

My kids love the varieties that we find. They have regular milk, chocolate, strawberry, white chocolate, organic and so much more. They are so excited about being able to pick out what flavor milk that want packed in their lunch each day.
My son said that Strawberry and chocolate are his favorites so far.

Have you tried Shelf Stable Milk in your child’s lunches?

Back To School Sandwiches with Hormel #HormelFamily #SP

August 28, 2013 - brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Hormel Foods as part of the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. Throughout the year I’ll be receiving product, coupons, giveaways and promotions. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.

School starts in a week for us, everyone is so excited. One thing I am worried about is lunches. My kids are so picky and usually only eat parts of their school lunches, mainly the fruit or snacks. So I pack their lunches whenever the menu is something I know they won’t eat.

Usually I would pack Peanut butter and Jelly, something I know my kids would eat. Unfortunately, each one of my children have a child with peanut allergies in their class. So peanut butter is not a option. The next best thing my children will eat is Turkey sandwiches.

When I buy lunchmeat I always look for Hormel first, the packaging is easy and I know it tastes good.

I pair the sandwich with a apple or orange, juice box and of course a snack of crackers.

Hormel is introducing two new flavors to their lunch meats, Cherrywood Smoked Ham and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey. Hormel Natural Choice lunch meats have zero preservatives and no artifical colors or flavors.

We loved the new flavors and my kids have asked me to stock up on Sun Dried Tomato for their school lunches.

Whats your child’s favorite back to school sandwich?

Grilling Just got easier with Jacks Pizza

August 23, 2013August 18, 2013 - brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: No compensation was received, a coupon was provided for product. All opinions are my own.

I grill just about everyday during the summer, it keeps the house cool and there is less dishes later. I never knew that you could grill a frozen pizza, but now you can.

It’s so simple to do too.

Just heat the grill to 400, grills will vary.
then place the pizza on the grill and close the lid.
let it cook for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

You the have a perfect crunchy pizza to enjoy.

I thought this was so great, I don’t have to worry about the house getting to hot from the oven.

My grill is really old so it’s a bit hard to keep teh right temperature, specially with the lid closed. So my pizza came out really crispy and a bit black, but it still tasted really good.

Jacks Pizza is having a giveaway where you can win a backyard makeover. Enter here and find out more about Jacks Pizza.

Have you ever made a pizza on the grill before?

Noodles and Company Opening In Garden City, NY

July 29, 2013July 29, 2013 - brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: I was invited to have a complimentary meal and share my review. All opinions are my own.

Noodles and Company is opening a new location at The Gallery at Westbury Plaza. It’s a new outdoor mall that is being built up.

Noodles & Company offers the world’s favorite noodle dishes, sandwiches, salads and soups, all in one restaurant. Each dish is carefully hand made to our guests’ specifications, using only the freshest ingredients. It’s individually sautéed or prepared, placed on our signature stoneware and served tableside with stainless steel flatware. All for around $8 a dish. There’s never any tipping at Noodles.

We have never been to Noodles and Company so we didn’t know what to expect. It’s not like a sit and wait on restaurant. You stand in line, order your food and pay. When your food is ready they will bring it out to you. You fill your own drinks and they even have the to go boxes available by the soda fountains. No need to wait for your waiter to come around for anything!

There is a variety of food, but it’s mostly pasta dishes. They also cater to people with allergies and the health conscious. There menu has a special section with vegan and vegetarian dishes.

We were able to preview the restaurant before it opened. We got off to a rocky start as the restaurant was over-booked for the preview. But we got it all sorted out and people took the food to go while others stayed.

We ordered some of the best dishes available.

Penne Rosa

Spicy tomato cream sauce, penne pasta, mushrooms, tomato, spinach and wine, parmesan or Feta. $5.89

Add Parmesan crusted chicken. $2.69

Wisconsin Mac and Cheese

A classic blend of cheddar and jack cheeses, cream, elbow macaroni $5.89

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Five meatballs on spaghetti, crushed tomato marinara and parmesan. SM. $7.19 Reg. $8.59

BBQ Pork sandwich:

Fresh ciabatta roll loaded with slow braised pork, colorful and barbecue drizzle. $7.49

The food was very very delicious. My daughter who received the Spaghetti and meatballs had noticed a macaroni noodle in her spaghetti. She said the funniest thing that had my table and the table next to us laughing. She said ” They need to get their noodles right”, it was a hilarious joke. She still ate the macaroni noodles though. All the food was so good, it was the first time in a long time that my kids ate all their food at the restaurant.

I would definitely say that this restaurant is family friendly and very affordable. I could feed my family of 5 for under $50.

Noodles and Company has their grand opening July 31, 2013 at 11 A.M.

To view their menu or find a location near you please visit here.

Hormel’s New Rev Wraps #HormelFamily #SP

July 19, 2013July 18, 2013 - brandy3 2 Comments

Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Hormel Foods as part of the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. Throughout the year I’ll be receiving product, coupons, giveaways and promotions. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.

Hormel is launching their new Rev Wraps, a delicious wrap that is perfect for lunch or snack. They are the perfect way to satisfy hunger because they’re ready to go with you wherever life takes you.

The benefits of Hormel Rev are:

Endurance: protein-rich to provide energy
Nutrition: made with real meat and cheese, an excellent source of protein and a good source of calcium and fiber.
Convenience: no preparation necessary, eaten hot or cold and designed to be hand held and portable.
Flavorful: classic deli combinations geared towards teens, as well as new, bold flavors for variety.

The wraps come in eight different varieties:

Ham and Cheese
Pepperoni Pizza
Peppered Turkey
Meat Lovers Pizza
Italian Style Ham
Hot Peppered Ham
Italian Style
Spicy Italian Style

** These wraps are perfect for everything, school lunches, snacks, and picnics. They are just the right size to fit in lunch boxes. We got to try all eight varities and loved them all. My kids loved them and they were so easy because I didn’t have to do anything. My favorites are the pizza flavors. It’s like eating cold pizza!

The cons: They are a bit small

These are available at retailers now at a price of $1.99-$2.29.

What style do you think you would like the best.

Make A Pizza On The Grill GiveawayClosed

July 17, 2013August 23, 2013 - brandy3 276 Comments

Disclosure: Information and prize packs were provided by Pillsbury through My Blog Spark. All opinions are my own.

I have never heard of or tried to make a pizza on the grill, but you can. I am going to try.

All you need is pizza ingredients and Pillsbury Pizza crust.
It’s simple to make just

Just heat your grill (propane or charcoal) to medium heat. Then cut a aluminum foil sheet 14×14. Spray it down with cooking spray, then place dough on foil and spread. Place pizza on grill foil down, cook for 3 minutes uncovered. When bottom is golden brown remove from grill.

Using a spatula flip the crust over, so the uncooked side is down on foil. Put pizza sauce and cheese with toppings on pizza. Place foil on grill and cook 3-4 minutes covered until crust is golden brown and cheese is melting.

This was such a fun experience, my kids always want to help grill but I get nervous then being around the flames. So this was the perfect way for them to help. they put on all the toppings and I do the grilling. The pizza tasted a little different than usual, but was still really good. really crispy.

Pin to win:
Create a Pillsbury Pizza Pinterest board
pin at least 3 pizza recipes from Pillsbury.com
Head to Pillsbury.com to register your board

One of my readers will win a Pillsbury Pizza grilling pack

19 piece grilling set
$10 gift card for ingredients.

To enter tell me your favorite pizza topping?

Extra entries:

Subscribe to my feed- 10 entries

Blog about this giveaway-9 entries

Grab my button-8 entries

Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post-6 entries unlimited

Follow me on twitter-4 entries

Tweet this giveaway-3 entries (can be done daily)

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post this giveaway on Facebook-1 entry (can be done daily)

Giveaway ends: August 17, 2013

*Photo from Pillsbury

Making a complete Meal With Hormel #HormelFamily

June 29, 2013June 29, 2013 - brandy3 1 Comment

Summer is here, and our one goal was to take a vacation, but that isn’t going to happen this year. We just don’t have the money. So instead we have been having a lot of cookouts and get together with friends.
I thought this last get together for Fathers Day would be the perfect time to make a full meal of Hormel products.

I was put to the challenge to make a entire meal out using Hormel products.
I decided that our starters or appetizers, would be Hormel Party Tray. My kids specially my daughter loves the cheese and crackers. Plus it’s not filling and it’s really easy to put together for a party.

For our main course we chose a family favorite: Hormel’s Pork Loin Apple Bourbon. Everyone in my family loves it! We choose to grill it when we make it, and it turns out so tender and flavorful.

For a side dish I made my Mom’s Macaroni salad, but gave it a little kick by adding bacon to it. I made Hormel’s Pre-cooked bacon and just crumbled it up into the salad. It was so good.

This was such a delicious meal, I will definitely be making everything again.

What is your go to meal with Hormel Products?

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