I got to try out some great Vlasic recipes for the holidays and thought I’d share them with you.

Dirty Pickle Vodka Martini

• 8 oz Vodka (any kind)
• 1/2 tsp. dry vermouth
• 2 Vlasic kosher dill spears
• 1 tbsp. pickle juice (from jar)

add ice about halfway up a cocktail shaker. Add Vodka,vermouth, and pickle juice. Shake well, pour into 2 martini glasses and garnish with a pickle spear in each glass.

I tried:

Messy Russian Turkey Sandwich

• 2 pieces sourdough bread
• 4 tbsp. Russian dressing
• 5 slices of turkey
• 4 slices applewood smoked bacon
• 1/2 avocado, sliced
• Russian Dressing
• 2 tbsp. mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp.   Vlasic dill relish
• 2 tbsp. ketchup

Mix equal parts of the three ingredients together.

Toast the bread, and spread on russian dressing. Place turkey, then bacon, then avocado on one half and make a sandwich.

*** This was very good. the dressing is kind of  like Thousand Island Dressing. The sandwich reminded me a lot of a turkey club sandwich. 

Retail:Vlasic products $1.00-$3.50

Disclosure:I did not receive compensation for this post. I did receive coupons for a free product for my review. All opinions are my own.

I was able to try out some great French’s products like Mustard, Honey Mustard, Horseradish, French Fried Onions, and Frank’s Buffalo Wing Sauce.  They also sent a long some recipes for me to share with you.

Holiday Stuffed Mushrooms

• 24 medium mushrooms, wiped clean
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup minced green onion
• 1 tbsp. minced garlic
• 1/4 cup minced parsley
• 3 tbsp. French’s Classic Yellow Mustard
• 1-2 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese

Chop mushroom stems. Reserve caps

Heat 2 tbsp. oil in large skillet. Cook chopped stems, bell pepper, onion and garlic until tender. Stir in parsley and mustard.

Brush Mushroom caps with 1 tbsp. oil. Spoon filling into mushroom caps. Sprinkle with cheese.

Bake mushrooms on pan at 425 degrees for 10 min. until tender and heated through.

Spicy Citri-politan

• 4oz Sky Citrus Vodka
• 2 oz triple sec liquer
• 2 oz pink grapefruit juice
• 1 tsp. superfine sugar
• 1/2 tsp. Frank’s Redhot original cayenne pepper sauce or Frank’s Redhot chile n lime hot sauce.
• Pink grapefruit wedges for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker half full with cracked ice.

Add Vodka, triple sec, grapefruit juice, sugar and Frank’s Redhot sauce

Shake or stir well. Strain into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with grapefruit wedges.

I have not had the chance to try one of these recipes yet. Mainly due to allergies, but I will be trying the Spicy Citri-politan on Christmas.

I did however spice up my meatloaf with French’s french fried onions. You just substitute 1 cup of bread crumbs, for 1 cup of French’s french fried onions.

***My husband and I agreed that this is better than my original meatloaf. We finished the whole dish it was so good.

For more recipes visit www.frenchsfoods.com and www.franksredhot.com

Retail-$1.oo-3.00

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post I did however receive some French’s products for my review. All opinions are my own.

I got to try out some lenders Bagels and also try some great recipes featuring them.

Lender’s Bagel Bruschetta-created by Kosher cooking expert Joy Devor (New York)

• 6 Lender’s Bagels
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic crushed
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 6 plum tomatoes chopped
• 1 red onion, diced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup basil leaves, chopped
• 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese(optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Scoop out insides of bagels, and cube the scooped out middle. Spread cubed pieces onto baking sheet and drizzle olive oil, garlic and salt evenly. Bake for 10 mins. or until toasted and light brown. in medium bowl combine tomatoes,onion, salt, pepper, and vinegar. toast outside of bagels lightly. Right before you serve combine the cubed bagel pieces with tomato mixture and pour into bagel shells.Optonal, sprinkle cheese over bagels and cook bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

I made

Eggs Benedict A LA Lender’s-created by contest finalist Rebecca Smith (Maryland)

• 1 Lenders Bagel plain
• 1/2 tbsp butter
• 1 egg
• 2 oz Canadian bacon(precooked)
• 1 tbsp. Hollandaise sauce(premade)
• 1 tsp chives

Put butter in frying pan and melt. Place Lender’s bagel face down in frying pan. Crack egg into bagel hole until the whites set; then flip so the other side of egg sets. Place egg and bagel on top of grilled piece of Canadian bacon. Drizzle Hollandaise sauce on top; add chopped chives to taste.

***This recipe was very good, but a little more work. It would be easier to just make eggs and bacon.  Lender’s Bagels are really good and come in different variety like wheat, cinnamon raisin swirl, and more.  The great thing about Lender’s Bagels is they are refrigerated so the last longer.

Retail:$5.00 for whole recipe (Lender’s bagels are $1.37-$2.50)

Rating: 6

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this post. I did receive a free product for my review.  All opinions are my own.

I recently was sent some great Duncan Hines products, chewy brownies, muffins, and cupcake mix, To try out some new great recipes Duncan Hines has put together for the holidays. These recipes are inexpensive and very easy to make.

Unfortunately due to dairy and nut allergies prevented me from making some of these recipes for my family. I  got to make cupcakes, and brownies, but wanted to share these great recipes with you.

carrot cake cheese cake:

• 1 box Duncan Hines carrot cake
• 1 cup hot tap water(for soaking carrots and raisins)
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 8 1/2 oz can crushed pineapple, packed in juice, drained well, reserve juice
• 1/2 cup coconut(optional)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• Cheese cake filling
• 2-8oz pack cream cheese
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 1 tbsp flour

soak raisins and carrots in 1 cup hot water, allow to stand 5 mins. drain and squeeze out excess water from carrots and raisins. In mixing bowl add dry mix, eggs, oil, carrots, raisins and pineapple. add coconut and walnuts. mix well by hand. spread 2 cups of carrot cake on bottom of a greased 9-9 1/2 springform pan. reserve remaining carrot cake.

in bowl beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla until smooth. Beat in eggs and flour. spread 1/2 of cheesecake batter on top of carrot cake. Spoon on remaining carrot cake and top with remaining cheese cake batter.  Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 50-60 mins. or until cake is set and cooked through. When cake is cooled frost with pineapple cream cheese frosting or Duncan Hines Cream Cheese frosting.

Pineapple cream cheese frosting:

• 2 oz cream cheese
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 cups powered sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 T pineapple juice

beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and pineapple juice until smooth. beat in powder sugar until smooth. frost top of cake. 

Macaroon brownies:

• Duncan Hines family style chewy fudge brownie mix
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup almond extract
• 1 cup almonds
• 1 cup flaked coconuts

Preheat oven to 350, grease pan.

prepare brownies according to package directions

bake 25 minutes

place egg whites in medium bowl. beat at high-speed until foamy, beat in sugar gradually. beating until meringue forms firm peaks. Add almond extract. Fold in almonds and coconut. spread over warm brownies.

bake for 12-14 mins. longer or until meringue is slightly turned brown.

**I just made regular brownies, but they were still very good.  These recipes are cheap and great for the holiday season.

retail: Duncan Hines mixes 2-4 dollars

rating:9

Disclosure: i received mixes from Duncan Hines to facilitate my review other ingredients were provided by me. I did not receive any other compensation for this post. these are my personal views and should not affect your judgement on the products.