The Daily Grind of a Work @ Home Mom...

'Tis the Season...

...to save money..."

...to get creative..."

...to be... how does it go - jolly??"

Last week I learned how to accomplish all these things (and more!) in a mere 2 hours at a lovely luncheon put on by the wonderful folks at Stop and Shop.  In the year since I was introduced to the money-saving and customer-oriented culture of Stop and Shop, I have had the opportunity to learn many great things about their stores, and the fact is, they have won me over. My favorite though, is their Scan It! program which allows customers to scan, bag, and pay for their groceries all without speaking a word to another living soul.  Socially inept as I may sound, this does allow for quick shopping and money-savings opportunities I might not otherwise have.    

And now I come bearing some new ideas from Stop and Shop's own Consumer Adviser, Andrea Astrachan, that might help the cash-poor but richly creatively gift-giver get by on not much more than a few dollars and a few minutes this holiday season.

Seriously, I want you to know about the grocery giant's Holiday Rewards program which essentially allows you to earn up to 20% off a grocery order of your choice until December 25th (think turkey!  think apps!  think desserts!).  But I also want to share some of their awesome gift-giving ideas that will simplify, and cheapify (is that a word?) your holiday season so that you can actually relax and enjoy it.

Idea #1:

Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels: 

What you'll need -

• A bag of long pretzel rods 
• Chocolate chips for melting
• Decorations such as sprinkles, cookie crumbs, crushed candy canes.

Melt the chocolate in a pot.  Dip the pretzel rod into the chocolate (use a knife to help apply it if the chocolate is not deep).  Roll the pretzel in your decoration of choice.  Let them cool, then place them gently in a cellophane bag and add ribbon and a gift tag.   

Idea #2:

Cookies in a Jar:

What you'll need -

• The makings for whatever cookies you choose (chocolate chip, oatmeal...)
• A mason jar
• Ribbon 
• Recipe card

Layer all ingredients in the jar, separating by color.  Be sure to pack down ingredients so they fit!  Close the lid and decorate the jar with ribbon or whatever you choose.  Attach the recipe card (which should include the wet ingredients recipient will add themselves).

How easy is that?

We want to help you buy your holiday treats!  The Daily Grind along with the wonderful peeps of 360PR and Stop and Shop are offering one lucky reader the gift of food - a $100 gift card at Stop and Shop!  To enter, simply comment below with your favorite aspect of the store.  The winner will be selected on Saturday, November 14th at midnight.  Only one entry per person.

Luncheon, gift-idea samples, parking and gift card were provided by Stop and Shop.  All views and opinions reflected on this blog are my own and were in no way influenced by any outside party.   

Chocolate Bread Pudding Anyone?

So last week I attended a really fun event at Upstairs on the Square for Stop and Shop.  I'd never been there and let me just say everything they served was really delicious.  But the real piece de resistance came in the form of dessert - bread pudding served with cinnamon ice cream.

It was so good that it somehow overshadowed some of the other points of the day (which I'll get to in a different post).

So one of the things that I am somewhat known for (ahem) are my yummy desserts.  My theory is - I like to eat 'em so I like to bake 'em.  And even though I got scolded by my mom for sharing some trusted recipes here (sorry, Mom), I'm going to share my recipe for my chocolate bread pudding because it is sooooo good.  Here goes:

Chocolate Bread Pudding

Ingredients:

• 1/2C butter
• 3 cups cubed bread (day old works best)
• 4 eggs
• 1Tbsp vanilla
• 1/2C sugar
• 1C light cream
• Walnuts (to your liking)
• 4.5oz's milk chocolate (or semi-sweet, to your taste), chopped

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt butter in a saute pan.  Add bread until it absorbs the butter and gets brown.  In a bowl, combine eggs, vanilla, sugar and cream.  Mix well.  Add the bread.  Mix.  Add the chocolate and nuts.  Set for one hour.

Grease the bottom of a 10"pan.  Pour mixture in.  Bake for 35 minutes or until the top of a bit brown.  I'll add a picture next time I make it.

ENJOY!

Did Someone Say Cupcakes?

It was my younger daughter's birthday this weekend and because I didn't throw her an all-out extravaganza (for reasons that are too many too mention), I thought I would make up for it with home-baked treats.  And I think I hit the mark - I made Magnolia cupcakes, Yo Gabba Gabba-style.  Check them out:

 They were fun to make (just ask my 3-year-old), delicious, and nice to look at.  Though I had no means of direct comparison, I thought they tasted pretty close to what I remember Magnolia cupcakes tasting like.  Try them for yourself - here is the recipe:

CUPCAKES

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers.

3. In a small bowl, combine the flours. Set aside.

4. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended. Carefully spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about three-quarters full. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean.

5. Cool the cupcakes in the tins for 15 minutes. Remove from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack before icing. At the bakery we ice the cupcakes with either Vanilla Buttercream or Chocolate Buttercream. 

Icing

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 6 to 8 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. (Use and store the icing at room temperature because icing will set if chilled.) Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

I followed these directions perfectly and they were delicious.  I'd love to know how yours come out!
 

Cook Up Some Fun with Lollipop Rascals' Baking Sets!

 

We love to cook in our house.  Or I should say, I have passed down my love for cooking to my oldest daughter, who offers help to Mom for anything kitchen-related.  This includes stirring my morning coffee, shaking the salad dressing, and even pouring her own milk.  So the prospect of baking her very own cookies from start to finish excited her to no end, and well, even Mom took pride in her enthusiasm for anything culinary-related.

The baking kit came to us courtesy of Lollipop Rascals, a wonderful web-store which offers the highest quality in educational toys and gifts.  And by educational, I don't mean flash cards and numbers games.  I'm talking fabulous book sets (It's Me! is one of our favorite nighttime reads), award-winning puzzles, themed-based toys and accessories, and excellent costumes. 

But we really liked the baking set. 

In fact, we are in favor of all things cooking and baking-related so the fact that Lollipop Rascals features an entire Rascal Chefs section is more than just a little bit awesome.  Introduce your child to baking in a gentle, fun way, while still producing a delicious finished product with any one of these baking kits.  Have a budding paleontologist?  Check out the Green Dinosaur Cookie Kit.  Have a princess on your hands?  Then the Fairy Princess Cookie Kit is for her.  There's so many ways to incorporate cooking into your child's life, and Lollipop Rascals will give you many insightful ideas.  Also, many of the baking kits are now up to 45% off - so there's really no risk!

In honor of Halloween, we are happy to give away a set of Witch Pop Up Cinnamon Spice Pumpkin Cookies (beware - these are DELICIOUS!!), and Paint-Your-Own Ghost Cookies to one lucky reader.  Simply visit Lollipop Rascals, and tell us what you like best about their site.  Contest will run through Wednesday, October 28th at midnight.  Open to US residents only.

All products reviewed were provide to me at no cost by Lollipop Rascals.  All views and opinions reflected on this blog are my own and were in no way influenced by any outside party.

You can take the girl out of Canada...

Hubby and I went to a wedding this weekend.  It was that of a co-worker at his office, and it was about 30 miles from home, in the town of Westford, Ma.  The ceremony was at 2pm, the reception at 4.  Between getting out of the church and driving to the inn where the reception was being held, we'd have about an hour, maybe more, to spare.  We didn't know how we'd spend that time, but friends of my husband's took care of it.

They set up a tailgate party in the parking lot at the inn.

Yup, you read it here -  A tailgate.  At a wedding.  In a parking lot at an inn. 

For those of you unfamiliar with the phenomenon commonly referred to as a tailgate party, Wikipedia defines it:

In the United States, a tailgate party is a social event held on or around the open tailgate of a vehicle.  Tailgating often involves consuming beverages and grilling food.  Tailgate parties usually occur in the parking lots at stadiums and arenas before and occasionally after or during sporting events and rock concerts.

There were beverages being consumed (ever hear of a strawpedo?  Neither had I).  There was food (deli sandwiches, chips, salsa), and there was an open tailgate.  Only thing missing was the sporting event.  Or rock concert.

Now, I'm not bashing the tailgate party.  Not at all.  But as a reminder: we were at a wedding.  In the parking lot.  Tailgating.

The Canadian in me was shocked (the term "tailgating" in Canada typically refers to driving up someone's ass on the highway).  The wedding-goer in me was in awe.  But the most shocking part of it all was that I seemed to be the only one marveling in my shock and awe.  Others casually stopped by on their way from their cars to the reception and grabbed a quick beer or bite.  No one seemed more than mildly amused that our friends had  thought to set-up shop.  In the parking lot.  At the inn.  Even I took a break from my shock and awe long enough to indulge in a veggie wrap and cup (or three) of warm spiked cider during the intermission between events.  But even as I drank (purely to raise my body temperature as it was maybe 45 degrees out - ok fine, it was delicious...), I was still shocked.  And awed.

I guess you can take the girl out of Canada, but you can't take the Canada outta the girl.

 

Milky Way Rice Krispie Squares

This is one of those recipes that you pull out on a really special occasion.  Say, once or twice a year.  Because they're addictive, amazing, and a total crowd-pleaser.  So, by popular demand, here you have it:

Milky Way Rice Krispie Squares

• 6 Milky Way chocolate bars (Mars bars work just as well)
• 1 stick of butter less 4tbsps (always watching that waistline... ;)
• 2 cups marshmallows
• 4 cups Rice Krispies
• 1/2 bag of chocolate chips

In a medium pot, melt butter and chocolate bars.  Stir in the marshmallows and melt a bit more.  Add the cereal.  Line your 9 x 13 inch baking dish with parchment paper and pour in the mixture.  Melt the chocolate chips and spoon into a piping bag (or a baggie with a little hole cut in the tip work really well).  Decorate with the chocolate.  Refrigerate until cool, cut, serve, and enjoy.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday. Hungry Anyone?

I've been cooking for the Jewish holidays which were last weekend.  They resume again in the form of Yom Kippur Sunday evening into Monday so I need to get back to the kitchen, but before I do, check out what I've been making...

Banana Cake with Chocolate Streusel

Spinach & Artichoke Palmiers

Marinated Bell Peppers*

K, so I didn't exactly *make* these cupcakes but I sure wish I did!

Marinated Bell Peppers

• 10-12 Bell Peppers (whichever colors appeal to you - I use all but green) 
• 1.5C White Vinegar (Apple Cider Vinegar works too)
• 2TBSP Vegetable or Canola Oil
• 1/2C Water
• 1C White Sugar
• 2 Cloves Chopped Garlic
• 6TBSP Ketchup

Put the peppers on a baking sheet and broil in the oven (or bar-b-q) until skin is blistered and brown.  Keep turning them, cooking about 10-12 minutes.  While peppers cook, combine all other ingredients in a large bowl with a cover. 

When the peppers are done, remove from oven, put them in a bowl and cover tightly (or a plastic bag).  Allow them to cool about 20 minutes.  Once cool, peel the skins from them, they should peel right off.  Combine peppers with the marinade and refrigerate overnight.

GoPicnic - Don't Leave Home Without It.

You know those days when you're running around like a chicken with your head cut-off, trying to get the kids out the door, trying to get yourself out the door, everyone with the proper backpacks, lunches and homework?  I do (minus the homework part, cuz preschoolers are pretty free and clear of after-school work so far, but the way things are going, stay tuned...).  On those mornings, it helps to have a little help.  So any healthy short-cut I can take is welcome.

My family and I recently tried GoPicnic, ready-to-eat meals that are pre-packaged so you can take them with you without much thought.  Ok, I know what you're thinking - pre-packaged foods?  Must be processed, greasy junk, right?  Wrong.  The thing we actually liked about the GoPicnic meals, already boxed and ready to grab, is that many of the foods within the box are things we normally buy at the grocery store.  GoPicnic has simply individually wrapped and assembled some of our favorite foods and snacks so we could grab them and go.  And this helps.

GoPicnic offers 20+ meals, none requiring refrigeration and the cool thing is they have incorporated more then your basic food needs into their meals.  Kosher, gluten-free, halal, vegetarian, or vegan - there are choices for everyone.  And the foods themselves contain no trans-fats, high fructose corn syrup or added MSG, and are free of artificial colors or flavors.  While there are (almost too) many choices in each box, each meal is designed to be balanced, though I defy anyone to eat it all at one sitting - there's just so much packed into those small boxes, and for no more than $6.99 per meal! 

While there are 6 meals designed with kids in mind, adults are equally as important to the folks at GoPicnic (kinda nice for a change, right?).  We tried a bunch of the meals, including ExploreMunch, and Aquamunch, and we loved most of the choices.  I incorporated some of the packaged foods into my daughter's camp lunch (which had to be kosher dairy) and it definitely took some of the thought out of this daily task.  We even enjoyed some new foods, like Sunbutter™ Sunflower Seed Spread (we LOVED this) spread on the included crackers, and dried apricots (which I dunked in the yummy Nutella), and were pleased to find some old favorites in there, like Calbee Baked Snapea Crisps, natural applesauce, and other solid choices.  

Win it!  THREE lucky readers will win SIX GoPicnic meals EACH (awesome, right?)!!  to enter, simply visit www.gopicnic.com and come back here to let us know which three meals appeal most to you.  A winner will be chose on Friday, August 14th at midnight.  Contest open to US residents only.

Buy it!  Get your GoPicnic meals NOW and save 20% on your order, Just enter promo code GPMOMS at checkout and go crazy!

Crazy Fantastic Caramel Strawberry French Toast Souffle

Seriously - this thing is so good it deserves a seven-word title.  Originally ingested at a friend's house, I knew I couldn't wait until she had another kid (it was ay her kids bris) to eat it again.  And since I'm really good at sharing, I now pass it along to you.  Let me know how it turns out!

Caramel Strawberry French Toast Souffle

Ingredients:

• 1C packed brown sugar
• 1/2C butter (1 stick)
• 2T light corn syrup (Karo)
• 12 slices challah bread
• 6 beaten eggs
• 1.5C milk
• 1tsp vanilla
• 1/4tsp salt
• 1 container or bag of frozen strawberries (or raspberries) defrosted
• Fresh berries for garnish

Combine sugar, butter and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Cook until bubbly.  Pour mixture into a 9x18" baking dish.  Place 6 slices of bread on top of mixture.  Distribute defrosted fruit over the top of each slice of bread.  Place remaining 6 slices of bread on top.

Combine eggs, milk, vanilla and salt and beat until blended.  Pour mixture evenly over bread.  Cover and chill for 8 hours or overnight.  Bake uncovered in pre-heated 350° for 40-45 minutes or until light brown on top.  Garnish with fruit, serve and LOVE IT!!  Makes 6 servings or 4 if you're animals (like us).   I'll take a photo next time I make it...

 

Who's Your Yummy Mummy?

I know.  I go on and on about Yummy Mummy Brownies.  But I just can't help myself, they're that good.  I mean, take a look at these babies, don't they just look good enough to eat?

Not convinced?  Take a good, close look at the Mint Patty:

  Seriously - if that doesn't make your taste buds quiver, I don't know what would.

Yummy Mummy Brownies come in a bunch of mouth-watering flavors including fudge, nut toffee, caramel nougat, and peanuty peanut butter.  But if you're like me and you can't decide, go for the custom box and mix 'n match to your hearts delight! At $17.50, these beautifully presented boxes of brownies won't break the bank and will make Mom smile.  Throw in a SWEET pair of Yummy Mummy Boy Shorts or a Yummy Mummy Long-Sleeve Tee and call it a gift set for $32.  Since all orders are shipped within 48 hours, you can still get your Mother's day order on time!

Every Mummy wants to be a Yummy Mummy - even if just for one day.  Go ahead and make it happen! 

www.yummymummybrownies.com