Potatoes? No, Tomatoes. Learning to love them.

I love tomatoes.  Enough said.  Blog post over.

One of the favorite joys in my life is walking to my garden in the summer, picking a tomato, slicing it up and eating the whole thing.  My lips and cheeks are puckering just thinking about the taste.

Four people live here and we are a house divided.  My husband is not a fan of the tomato and that is putting it nicely.  My youngest daughter has not yet discovered the joy of a tomato, in fact she actually says it's "potatoes" that she doesn't like.  But if I put a tomato anywhere near her she cringes.  But my oldest daughter has discovered that she likes tomatoes, she- is on my team.

I love to cook with tomatoes.  Sauce, diced, stewed, whole, and canned tomatoes are a great way to add juice and flavor to many things including one of our favorite recipes.  This recipe doesn't have an official name.  It's just a crock pot meal that a friend posted on a message board years ago.

You will need:

• One pound stewing beef
• 1 can tomato sauce (we use Hunt's)
• 1 small bag of frozen peas
• 2T Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 onion chopped
• salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste.
• Add a can of stewed tomatoes for more sustenance, and more health benefits.

Place all ingredients in crock pot, stir, cover and cook on high for three hours or on low for 10.  Serve over linguine, other pasta, or mashed potatoes.  Top with Parmesan.

This recipe makes me happy because our garden hasn't even been planted yet this year, heck it snowed last week, and making this crock pot tomato stew is one way I can expose my family to the benefits of tomatoes in the off season.  I recently read the article Tomato Consumption and Health: Emerging Benefits and was very interested in a few of the basic tomato facts, such as:  

• Tomatoes are the most consumed non-starchy vegetable.
• Tomatoes are the most significant source of dietary lycopene.  Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that gets more powerful after cooking.  Which, this time of year, most of the tomatoes I use are cooked!
• Tomatoes are one of the top contributors of potassium to the American diet.
• Tomatoes are good for your heart. (It’s easy to remember because they’re red.)  They are low in calories, but rich in fiber.
• Emerging research underscores the relationship between consuming tomatoes and tomato products with reduced risk of certain cancers, heart disease, ultraviolet light-induced damage, osteoporosis and other conditions.

A favorite of mine is Hunt's tomato products. All of Hunt's products are grown in California, 100% Natural, and they come in a lot of varieties including No Salt Added.  Only Hunt's uses the natural FlashSteam process to lock in the natural tomato goodness of every tomato in their diced, whole and stewed varieties.  And each Hunt's tomato goes from vine to can in just hours so home cooks can enjoy the summer-fresh taste of tomatoes all year round.

If you think I'm just tomato happy then check out the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and see how tomatoes and other healthy foods can benefit your life.  These guidelines recommend one or more servings of tomatoes a day, as part of the new red-orange vegetable sub-group.  Now if someone could just convince my husband that they really taste great too!

I received a stipend from Hunt's and The Motherhood in exchange for this blog post.  All opinions, ideas and statements are mine and mine alone.

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cookie Pizza and hormonal tweens

I have an enormous sweet tooth.  Seriously, I need help. I also have a hormonal 10-year-old daughter.  Seriously, I need help with that too.  I will also say right off the bat that I am not condoning or fixing my daughters mood swings with sweet, sinful desserts.  But I do make them to make me feel better after putting up with her.  And her seven-year-old sister who can be equally as bitc... ummm, moody.  I have food issues, and I am trying to make sure my daughters do not.  But anywho, let's talk about the dessert pizza goodness I made today.  #Familymeals do not need to be followed by dessert, but is sure as hell helps.

I found the recipe for Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cookie Pizza on the Pillsbury website. I have seen it in magazines other times and had always wanted to make it.  Today it was necessary.

All you need is:

1 roll of chocolate chip cookie dough
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter ( I used Peter Pan)
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 cup whipped topping (I used Reddi Whip)
hot fudge topping
chopped nuts

With those sinful ingredients you do the following:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Press cookie dough evenly in bottom of pizzsa pan to form crust.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.
• Spread peanut butter mixture over top. Drizzle with fudge topping. Sprinkle with peanuts. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until serving time. Cut into wedges or squares. Spray a dollop of Reddi-Whip on top (OK that's my own signature move)

Then you eat this ooey, gooey goodness and try not to gag.  It's that good.  I also strongly suggest small portions.  Even those with the healthiest of blood sugar levels may have issues after ingesting this dessert.  Check out my whrrl below for pictures of the delectable dessert pizza.

More check-ins at Walmart Supercenter #1754

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This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for #collectivebias, all opinions are mine and mine alone.

Dinner is a pain, especially #weeknightmeals

I was not put on this earth to cook.  Which is hilarious because I subscribe and buy many cooking magazines, have a variety of cooking apps on my phone, and borrow cookbooks from the library.

I am fascinated by the idea of cooking and finding new recipes.  But I usually only get as far as leaving the book open on the counter or printing the recipe and leaving it for my husband to find.  And prepare.  I'm sly that way.

Lately I've been all about widgets.  Whether it's on my phone or elsewhere on the Internet, I think it's so fun to  plug in a few criteria, or ingredients I have on hand, and see what pops up.  That's why the Kroger widget you see to the left is so great.

If you click on the Kroger widget a new website will open called Give Every Night New Flavor.  Once you're there you can find all the help you need to come up with something to have for dinner.  In my Whrrl below you can see that  I used the site and made Beef and Cheese Roll Ups.  Cory and I were skeptical at first, because it seems kind of silly- spaghetti sauce and a mozzarella cheese stick in a burrito shell.  But it did seem kid friendly, so we went for it.  Even as we sat down we wondered really?  This is what's for dinner?  But they were actually very tasty.

There are a lot of great recipes on Give Every Night New Flavor.  With cuisine choices like Mexican, Italian and Asian there is something for everyone, no matter how much time you have.

More check-ins at Kroger Food and Pharmacy

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This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions stated are mine and mine alone.

Food, food, glorious food

We have been in a food rut in this house.  Same ole' same ole'.

We've been trying to stir things up a bit.  We had Greek turkey burgers last week, and hot turkey sandwiches tonight, and not too long ago we had Asian Slaw with Teriyaki Chicken.

You can read our review of that delicious dish at www.giveeverynightnewflavor.com.  Our review, and others, plus reviews of other great recipes like a beef taco skillet, hero joe, and chilled spaghetti salad are all there for your enjoyment and inspiration.

Give Every Night New Flavor is hosted by the Kroger family of stores and you can go there by clicking on the widget in the left sidebar.  (The widget is best viewed with FireFox or Chrome.) Once you click and arrive at the site you can pick from a few different criteria and get recipe suggestions for your week night meals.  There are many great ideas on there and it even allows you to input how much time you have to whip it up.

So if you are at a loss so many nights like I am, click on the widget and see what pops up, and enjoy something new for dinner tonight.

Disclosure: This post has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions stated are mine and mine alone.

Spicy Chicken Chili with #FranksRedHot

Looking for something easy and yummy to make for Superbowl Sunday?  I've got you covered.  Hubby and I made this at New Years and it was so good, that we are thinking about making it again.

My Life of What Ifs Spicy Chicken Chili

Rotisserie Chicken

3 cans northern beans
2 cans Chicken Broth
1 diced onion
1 can diced tomatoes with peppers
2/3 cup Franks Red Hot or more to taste
1 clove garlic
2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano

Cook on your stovetop or in a slowcooker.

Top with tortilla Strips, sour cream and shredded cheese. Yum.

The settling of the dust

It's all getting back to normal.  I have a renewed sense of direction and dedication.

Plus, I have moved my home office upstairs to the Living Room.  The Living Room is at the front of our house and aside from an upright player piano and a curio cabinet it has been a functionless room since we moved in nine years ago.

Now I have an office with sunlight.  It's much more inspiring than the space in the basement I really hoped would be my little escape for work.

In the meantime, while you're waiting for whatever, here is a video of Hubby and I making Chicken Chili with Frank's Red Hot (#FranksRedHot and our new Hamilton Beach Crock Pot. It came out great!  The recipe is below.  Holla!



My Life of What Ifs Spicy Chicken Chili

3 cans Great Northern Beans
2 cans Chicken Broth
Rotisserie Chicken
1 diced onion
1 can diced tomatoes with peppers
2/3 cup Franks Red Hot
1 clove garlic
2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano

Top with tortilla Strips, sour cream and shredded cheese.  Yum.

Disclosure:  I was given this Hamilton Beach slow cooker by Collective Bias in exchange for my recipe.  All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Red Gold Fresh Tomato Basil Pizza and a **GIVEAWAY**

I like to try new things and I like to be surprised.  I also like to tell people about new things and about when I am surprised.  So when Red Gold sent me a note asking if I would be interested in giving away a Red Gold kit that looked like a vintage tomato can, that was also full of Red Gold goodies, I had to say yes!

They also sent a recipe for Fresh Tomato Basil pizza which you can see me make in that Whrrl widget down below.  It's a very simple recipe and very tasty.  It's great for a party where you can cut it into small pieces, since I felt it was very rich tasting!

To enter to win your very own Red Gold Vintage Tomato Can of Goodies you must do the following:

1.  Leave me a comment telling me your favorite way to eat tomatoes!!!!  Sliced with salt and pepper?  In a dip?  On a salad?

You can also gain additional entries by subscribing to my blog by way of the RSS feed, blogger follow, networked blogs or google friend connect, or following me on Twitter @Swanngirlz.  Leave a comment for each one you do telling me you did so.

So go check out my Whrrl!  Leave me comments!  Win fun stuff!

No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered.  Open to participants in the US and Canada 18 years and older. Contest ends March 16, 2010 at 11:59:59 p.m. EST.

Disclosure: Red Gold provided me with this tomato kit and one to give away free of charge. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone and are not influenced in any way by anyone.

The Great American Taste Test ~ Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits

About a month ago I stumbled upon an opportunity that was too good to pass up. If I agreed to participate in an event called The Great American Taste Test I would receive a complimentary copy of Ron Douglas's new book America's Most Wanted Recipes: Delicious Recipes from Your Family's Favorite Restaurants.

You're probably saying, "Yeah, so?" But what you may not realize is that America's Most Wanted Recipescontains over 200 recipes from 57 of America's most popular restaurants including The Cheesecake Factory, KFC, Olive Garden, P.F. Chang's, Outback Steakhouse and Red Lobster. Yes, Red Lobster. Cheddar biscuits anyone? Yeah, I thought so.

While I hated to be predictable, we chose to taste test Douglas's copycat recipe for Red Lobster's cheddar biscuits. The Red Lobster closest to our house is about 25 miles away, and aside from the "teeny weeny shrimpies" you can get on your salad, the cheddar biscuits are our favorite, and if we could make them at home, well that would be bliss.

I was able to grab some Sunday while out covering a story for the newspaper, and when I got home my husband was in kitchen heaven. I may fancy myself a writer but he's the best cook in our house, and we all know it. He spent A LOT of time devouring this cookbook to decide which recipes we would try first, and while we knew we would taste test the biscuits, we also knew we would round out our meal with more from the book.

The recipe for cheddar biscuits is obscenely simple. Cory is a fan of baking mix, but much to his chagrin can never get the flavor to spread throughout the batch. Truth be told, that while he is a fantastic cook, his biscuits are usually a little ummm, hard, and not really of the melt-in-your-mouth variety. But by adding a little shredded cheese, milk and butter, wow! And I do mean wow!!! Even our picky five-year-old declared them wonderful and the only difference between the two versions was that the originals were a little more "melty" but the flavor was ALL there.

In addition to the Red Lobster biscuits we also made (but without the "real" versions on hand) Boston Market's meat loaf and Applebee's bacon-green onion mashed potatoes, both items we have enjoyed in the past at their respective restaurants.

The meat loaf was acceptable, and truth-be-told I am picky about my meat loaf, so I am not easy to please, but the bacon-green onion mashed potatoes were simply divine. I highly recommend them, and again very easy to make. Just ask my husband.

Unfortunately in our haste to get our eatin' on, I didn't take the time to really evaluate my pictures before consuming our, ummm, my husband's hard work. Therefore I didn't know they were all blurry. (Maybe I was shaking with anticipation?) But here is a glance of Cory's work. Again, those biscuits, tell me your mouth is not watering.

We have big plans for America's Most Wanted Recipes. Many recipes are marked to try in the very near future, including KFC's original recipe chicken, Hard Rock Cafe's pulled pork and Cracker Barrel's cherry-chocolate cobbler, to name a few. I promise to report on all of them, unless my fingers become too large to hit one key at a time, or I never wake from the food coma. But at least I'll have a smile on my face. Bon Appetit!!!

Today we Mommy Blog about cooking

Have I mentioned that I have been a frequent visitor to our library this summer? The money I have saved (or used to pay bills) by borrowing movies, CD's, CD-Rom's and books this summer has been awesome to say the least.

When I see a movie I want to rent, or a book I want to read (chick lit anyone?) I just go to our library's website and search for it, then "request" it, and sometimes I wait in line a few days or weeks for it and sometimes it's ready the next day. All free of charge.

I've also been introducing the girls to the library and I admit it's been a challenge. They like to check out items and put them on a table and forget about them. But I have my tricks. Such as showing Ryann that she can borrow the Guinness Book of World Records from the library instead of paying $25 for it in the check out lane at Best Buy.

Today I told her we should look at kids cook books. An idea that brought a big smile to her face. She chose Cool Lunches to Make and Take, and together we chose to make Pasta Salad Presto. It was the one thing that we had all of the ingredients for, or that we could at least improvise.

So, like a good girl I will show you the ingredients I threw together :) Then I will show you my girls using knives, paring knives, but knives none the less. Next is their cute little hands, first Ryann's, then Jayden's. Anyone up for Finger Pasta Salad?

The girls used what fingers they had left to mix up the vegetables and cheese that we would add to the pasta (Mom handled the stove part). Then we made the dressing which the girls said was "stinky"! Yummmm, vinegar and garlic. Tasty to any five or nine year old.

When the pasta was cooked el dente (ok so it could have cooked a little longer, my bad) they mixed it all together! Yay we made pasta salad, I am Mom of the year!

"When can we eat it?" Jayden asked. "Well," I explained, "it has to chill in the fridge for an hour and that is just enough time for Daddy to get home from his softball game and cook us something to go with it." Yep, Mom of the year.

Our Favorite Recipe ~ Pizza Casserole

I was given this recipe almost 20 years ago by a dear friend. It has taken on many forms through the years depending on if the children were going to eat it or not. But it's simple and we love it.

You can exchange and omit ingredients for your own tastes. That's the beauty of it!

1 bag of wide egg noodles
1-1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 jar pizza sauce
1 8 oz. pkg mozzarella cheese
assorted pizza toppings of your choice
pepperoni
diced ham
mushrooms
onions
banana peppers
green peppers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook noodles according to package instructions while browning ground beef.
Combine noodles and beef in a 9 X 13 baking dish, add jar of pizza sauce and mix until noodles and beef are well coated.

Next layer or mix in assorted pizza toppings.

Top finished creation with mozzarella cheese and bake at 350 until cheese is melted and casserole is warm throughout. Usually about 10 minutes.

Enjoy!