The Kentucky Derby was so exciting this month. I love seeing all the fun hats and people dressing up.

We don’t really celebrate that much, but when we lived in the south it was a constant thing. This year I decided to celebrate with the kids our own style. The kids all drew pictures and we had all the food picked out.

They decided to just decorate Burger King hats, for the occasion. LOL

For food we just did the basics, of Southern BBQ with Potatoes and then we did chips and dip

We chose all Hormel products for our party, besides being great products I had tons of coupons for them. So we went with Lloyds BBQ Beef, and Hormel Chili and Cheese for dip.

I miss being in the south, it always a bigger deal down there. We still had fun with our mini party though.

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. 

I love eating salads with my meals, but I do admit at times they can be just plain and boring.  So while I was at the grocery store I saw some Hormel food items on sale and thought I would try a new salad.

I made a salad with lettuce, carrots, tomatoes and cucumber, then I add a little bit of shredded cheese.

The Hormel Foods I added are Bacon pieces and Hormel Mini Pepperoni, when added to a salad. It is so good!

Definitely a good way to turn a sale into a meal.

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. 

April 12, 2012 is National Grilled Cheese Day. This year why not spice up your grilled cheese sandwiches.

We received a few Hormel products to help make our grilled cheese sandwiches better. The first sandwich we added double cheese and pepperoni.

We lightly buttered the bread, put the butter side down on frying pan then add cheese. Put some mini pepperoni on the cheese and cover with another piece of cheese, then the other piece of bread. Flip over and wait for cheese to melt.

This has become a favorite of my kids, they are asking for it all the time.

I also tried Grilled Cheese topped with Hormel fully cooked bacon

Just repeat steps above but add bacon instead of pepperoni

The grilled cheese bacon sandwich was really good too, my kids are considering it a breakfast food now since it has bacon on it.

How will you be changing up your grilled cheese sandwich on Nation Grilled Cheese Day?

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. 

Easter is coming up and every year we always have a nice Turkey dinner. Last Thanksgiving though, no one could even stand Turkey anymore, so now we have decided that for easter we will be cooking a ham. So we have decided to go with a Hormel Cure 81 Ham.

For more than 45 years, the Cure 81 brand on the label has guaranteed that every meal occasion will be perfect. Each Cure 81 ham starts by selecting the best ham and then hand preparing, trimming and inspecting it throughout the process to maintain the highest quality standards. The final result is a moist and tender ham that provides great texture and flavor.

We decided on a oven ready half ham, with brown sugar glaze. We don’t eat much with 3 small kids so that should do.  I can’t wait until Easter dinner, it’s going to be so yummy and fun.

Join in on the Twitter Party with @MomItForward and @Hormel on April 3 from 9-10pm EST

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. 

Every four years, we have a Leap Year. One extra day to help you get caught up on sleep or work. This year my Leap day was spent away from the computer and with Family. As a blogger I am on the computer a lot and while I try to only be on when my family is asleep it can be hard.

My day started out the normal routine, up early getting the girls ready for school. My normal Wednesday errands and then the social media world shut down for family time. It was great having just one on one time with my son. Then all three of my kids when school was out.

Since My daughter only has half day Kindergarten she eats lunch at home, and they chose Hormel kids complete meals. These come in Spaghetti and Beef Mac and Cheese.

After playing all day long!

I decided to make a special dinner, since the kids were quiet and behaving.
I decided to make something I have never made before, and hubby actually joined me in the cooking. We decided to make two different kinds of Chicken.
Hubby made Orange chicken by throwing it in flower and cooking, then smothering it in Mandarin oranges. It was very good.

I made a BBQ crispy chicken with Mashed Potatoes.

It was so good, my Family loved it.

How did you spend your extra day this year? Let me know in the 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.