Category Archives: Cooking

Creo Collapsible Food Storage Containers Review and Giveaway!!!

Creo Logo

Creo tools are inspired by the originality and creativity of chefs at home who have their own distinct tastes. People that cultivate their passion for cooking (and eating) on their own terms. Their mission is to deliver a home cooking experience that is exciting, exploratory, creative, and self-expressive.

From delicious ingredients to tasty leftovers, the Creo Collapsible Storage is vacuum sealed making it leak proof and airtight to keep food fresh.

Creo Containers website pic

I recently had the chance to try out a few pieces of Creo collapsible food storage containers and I absolutely love them. They collapse so they save room in cabinets and drawers and expand to hold your food and keep it fresh with the vacuum seals. The seals also vent to let steam out during microwave cooking if desired.  The lids have a silicone gasket that creates a leakproof, tight seal, perfect for traveling.  Containers are safe and can be used in the freezer, oven and microwave. The silicone containers are stain and odor resistant plus they are dishwasher safe for easy clean up!  You can purchase the containers on Amazon.com.

creo containers

Creo Conatiners 1

Creo Containers 2

creo Containers 3

Creo Containers 4

Creo Containers 5

Creo is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win 2 pieces of Creo Collapsible Food Storage Conainers!  Thank you to Creo for sponsoring this great giveaway and for the review containers.  Open to US residents.

Creo Collapsible Food Storage Container Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

 

 

Continue reading


15 Comments

Filed under Cooking, Giveaway, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review, Shopping

Success® Whole-Grain Boil-In-Bag Brown Rice Is a Pantry Staple For Me!!! #SUCCESSRICE

Success Rice Box

You know what’s one of my go to foods when I want a quick and easy side dish or to make to eat for lunch or a snack? It’s Success® Whole-Grain Brown Rice and Salsa.  I have been eating that for the last several years so I was absolutely stoked to be chosen to write a sponsored post for Success® Boil-In-Bag Rice.  I absolutely love it the brown rice and mild chunky salsa combination.  I have no idea what ever led me to mix the two, but from the first time I did, it was love at first bite.

Have you tried Success® Boil-In-Bag Rice?  If you have, then I am sure you will relate to how convenient it is to have in your pantry, I consider it a pantry staple.  It’s simple to make and the brown rice can even sit for 30 minutes in the hot water (with the heat off) before serving making it foolproof and worry free.

If you’ve never tried it, you should! Success® Whole-Grain Brown Rice is 100% whole grain and gluten-free. The rice has a great chewy texture and nut-like flavor that are a nice departure from traditional rice products on the shelves.  The cooked brown rice can be used in a variety of recipes from salads, soups, main entrees to desserts just like white rice.  Success® Whole-Grain Brown Rice is available in two sizes (14 oz. and 32 oz.) to accommodate different household sizes.

I tried a recipe for the first time with Success® Whole-Grain Brown Rice.  I improvised on one of the recipes I found online at the Success® Rice website. and made a fried brown vegetable rice.  It was super easy.  I just prepared 2 bags of Success® Whole-Grain Brown Rice according to the package directions.

Success Rice

I put the rice in a bowl and mixed it with peas and carrots (you can use cooked fresh, canned or frozen) and green beans. Then I  heated up some oil in pan to cook 4 beaten eggs for about 40 seconds, began to break up the eggs  into small pieces while they finished cooking.

success-rice 1

When the eggs were cooked I added the rice and veggies and cooked until heated through adding a few tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce. An easy way to a healthy side that tastes great.

Success Rice 4

Success Rice 5

You may also like Success® White Boil-In-Bag Rice.  I hope you will share with me if you are a user of this rice and what your favorite way to use it is or if you try a new recipe with it.  If you have never tried it, I hope you will let us know your thoughts if you do and what you made with it.  For inspiration you can browse more than 300 recipes from breakfast to dessert on the Success® Rice website at www.successrice.com. For additional recipe inspiration, lifestyle tips and more, you can connect with Success Rice on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Success® Rice is one of the participating brands in a “How Are You Cooking This Fall?” Sweepstakes from O, The Oprah Magazine! Would you like to win a variety of culinary-themed prizes?  If so, head on over to O’s Magazine and submit the entry form and pin with inspiration from O’s PROMO: “How Are You Cooking This Fall?” Pinterest board for a chance to win.

 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf Success® Rice.


Leave a Comment

Filed under Cooking, Kitchen, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Recipes

How To Bake a Perfect Artisan Round Bread and French Baguettes Easily

 

EmileHenry-Logo

I consider myself a good baker but I never thought I could make bread the way I did last weekend.  I had help from Emile Henry.  I was sent the Emile Henry Bread Cloche  and Baguette Baker in beautiful, warm red.

Emile-Henry-Bread-Cloche

emile henry baguette baker red

emile henry baguette baker

Bread 53

Bread 54

Bread 55

Bread 56

 

 

As I looked at the recipe book, I marveled at how quickly you could make bread, artisan style bread that looked delicious. I still doubted mine would turn out as perfectly.  I started making the quick-bake recipe of the round bread and it was so easy.

3 cups of bread flour

1 cup of warm water (95 degrees F)

2 tsp of salt

2 tsp of granulated sugar

2 tsp of dried baker’s yeast

2 tbsp. of milk

In a large bowl mix the bread flour, salt, sugar and dried yeast.

Bread

Bread 2

 

Pour in the warm water and knead for about 2-3 minutes.

Bread 3_edited-1

Bread 4

 Form the dough into a ball and cover with a dish towel.

Bread 6

 

Bread 7

Put the covered bowl in a warm place away from drafts to rise for 20 minutes.  Uncover the dough and knead to remove the carbon dioxide, form the dough into a ball.  Sprinkle some flour on the platter of the bread cloche and place the ball of dough on the platter.

Bread 8

Bread 9

Bread 10

Bread 11

Cover with the cloche and let rise for another 45 minutes at room temperature.

Bread 12

Brush a little milk over the top at the end of the rise time and sprinkle with flour.

Bread 16

Bread 17

Bread 18

Make several incisions on the top and cover again with the cloche. Bake in a preheated oven of 460 degrees F for 35 minutes and then allow the bread to cool on the platter with the cloche removed.

Bread 20

Bread 21

Bread 22

Bread 23

The whole process was fast and easy and I cannot tell you how impressed I was when I removed the Cloche after baking and saw that beautiful round artisan style bread on the platter.  It tasted as good as it looked and the whole family enjoy it right from the oven.

Bread 24

Bread 25

Bread 26

Bread 27

Bread 28

The baguette baker was the next thing I tried and even though the first time baguettes could use a little artisan tweaking the taste of them was better than anything we have ever tasted.  The way the baker cooks the crust but leaves the middle soft and chewy is unbelievable.  My kids ate those faster than you could say Bon Jour.  The are definitely one of our new favorites and I only wish my parents were still alive to taste these breads because they would have loved them!  I never knew that you could bake this kind of bread at home and now that we know, we are baking bread almost daily.

For the Baguettes we used the “Real French Baguette” recipe below:

2 cups of bread flour

1 cup of warm water (110 degrees F)

1 tsp of fine salt

1 tsp of dried yeast

I added about 2 tsp to 3 tsp of granulated sugar ( I added by eye)

Mix flour, salt and yeast in a mixing bowl and add the warm water and knead the dough about 5 minutes until you can form a smooth ball.  Cover the bowl with a dish cloth and let rise in a warm location, away from drafts for about 40 minutes.

Bread 29

Bread 30

After 40 minutes, knead the dough again to remove the carbon dioxide and then divide into three equal portions. Sprinkle each piece with flour and shape into a rectangle about the size of your hand then roll the dough a little longer in length than the depression in the baguette pan and about 10 cm wide.  Fold one side about 2/3 of the way over and then the other side 1/4 of the way over to form a cylinder shape.

Bread 31

Bread 32

Bread 33

Bread 38

Bread 40

Bread 41

 

Sprinkle the baguette pan with flour and turn the formed dough with the folded side on the bottom and place in the pan.  Repeat with the other 2 pieces.  Cover with the lid and let rise for 2o minutes while you preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.

Bread 43

Bread 467

 

After 20 minutes open the cover and brush with water, sprinkle with flour and make several diagonal cuts in each baguette.

Bread 44

Bread 45

Replace cover and bake for 25 minutes and then remove the cover and continue baking for 2 minutes until they are nice and brown.

Bread 48

 

As soon as these came out we ate them hot with fresh butter and they were gone in minutes!

If you like to bake bread or if you have never made bread, you have to try these Emile Henry accessories.  You will not believe the bread you will be making and neither will your family.

Quality Bakeware For Breads:

Emile Henry enters the artisan bread baking category with the Bread Cloche. The ceramic Bread Cloche with its bell-shaped cover allows you to proof your bread directly in the bread cloche. The lid also traps steam from the baking bread to create an environment similar to a steam-injected oven. The steam gives the bread a crunchy, chewy crust. The Emile Henry Bread Cloche is sized for a round loaf made with 3-cups of flour. Recipe and Instruction booklet included. Like all Emile Henry products, the Bread Cloche is made of all natural materials and is backed by a ten-year warranty, which is not offered by any other ceramic manufacturers. Emile Henry is located in the Burgundy town of Marcigny, France.

The new ceramic Baguette Baker from Emile Henry bakes three, 13½inch long by 2¼ inch wide, artisanal French baguettes. The Baguette Baker traps steam from the baking bread to create an environment similar to a steam-injected oven. The steam gives the bread a crunchy, golden crust and a chewy interior. The Baguette Baker simplifies the process so home bakers have more consistent, delicious results every time they make bread. A recipe book is included with the product so even a novice baker will be confident in baking bread at home. The Baker, made in France from Burgundy clay.

 

Emile Henry’s Oven Ceramic bakeware and tableware is made in Marcigny France since 1850 from high fired Burgundy clay. The natural clay is unsurpassed for conducting and retaining heat. Emile Henry’s Oven Ceramic is made with an exclusive process to produce strong and durable ceramic bakeware and tableware for everyday use.

  • Resistance Against Mechanical Shocks: During everyday use, there are many opportunities to bang a dish or a set of plates. Particularly resistant to shocks, our ceramic is even used in restaurants!
  • Resistance Against Temperature Changes: A dish or stewpot should be able to withstand wide variations in temperature. Our ceramics allow our products to be taken directly from the freezer to the hot oven (+250°C/500°F).
  • Resistance Against Fading Colors: Heat, the dishwasher or sharp instruments will all have an ageing effect on a product. Our glazes are particularly resistant to the dishwasher and the most aggressive of detergents.

The quality of these pieces is extraordinary and the ease of use and clean up is absolutely divine.

Emile Henry is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will receive their own Bread Cloche and Baguette Baker- A $260 value!!!  Thank you to Emile Henry for the review pieces and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Emile Henry Bread Cloche and Baguette Baker Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

Continue reading


32 Comments

Filed under Baking, Cooking, Giveaway, Kitchen, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Recipes, Review

Orblue, Propresser Garlic Press Gives You The Garlic You Crave Without Stinky Hands!!!

OrBlue_logo_png1

Do you love to cook with garlic but hate the peeling and mincing of the garlic cloves?  Do you hands smell like garlic for days after peeling and mincing?  If you answered yes, I’ve got good news. The Propresser Garlic Press is what you need!  Right out of the box you will see that the Propresser is a cut above cheap zinc alloy garlic presses.

Garlic Press

Garlic Press1

Garlic Press 2

The Propresser is made for 100% stainless steel that won’t rust or weaken at the joint.  This garlic press was designed to meet your needs for years to come.  The company is so sure that their press is the best they give custoerms a double guarnatee for the lifetime of the product.  If anything goes wrong they will not only refund your money but send you a brand new unit too!  You do not have to peel the cloves and it presses the garlic right out leaving the skin behind.  The press is comvortable and it is so easy to effortlessly produce minced garlic for all your cooking needs.

Garlic Press 3

 

I tried it first with an unpeeled clove, super easy and fast.

I tried it first with an unpeeled clove, super easy and fast.

 

 

In goes unpeeled garlic.

In goes unpeeled garlic.

 

The garlic pressed just as easy and left the skin behind in the basket.

The garlic pressed just as easy and left the skin behind in the basket.

Trying a bigger piece of unpeeled garlic.

Trying a bigger piece of unpeeled garlic.

Garlic all minced just as easy.

Garlic all minced just as easy.

And the skin is left behind.

And the skin is left behind.

Yummy Garlic Bread!

Yummy Garlic Bread!

Garlic Press 15

Garlic Press No More Smelly Hands

When you are done, clean up is just as easy!  All you need to do is flip up the Propresser Garlic Press’s basket and rinse or put right in your dishwasher.  You can buy the Propresser Garlic Press at Amazon.com.  Happy Pressing!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.


Leave a Comment

Filed under Cooking, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Shopping

Yonanas, Healthy Dessert Maker Review & Giveaway

Yonanas Logo

With the unofficial start of Summer at the end of this month, cool, refreshing treats are so timely.  However, while ice cream on a hot day may be delicious, it can pack on the pounds if you’re not careful.  There’s a great way to cater to your ice cream craving with a healthy alternative.

Yonanas 7

Yonanas 7

Yonanas 7Yonanas 7

yonanas newYonanas 7yonanas newYonanas 7Yonanas 7

 

yonanas

Yonanas, healthy dessert maker takes frozen bananas and other kinds of frozen fruit and turns it into a soft serve style dessert.  You simply freeze bananas without the skin along with frozen fruit you can buy like mixed berries, mango, pineapple etc.  Let the fruit thaw for about 15 minutes at room temperature and then run it through the Yonanas machine.

I was impressed with how easy it was to make a yummy, healthy treat with the consistency of ice cream.  It tasted like a fruity sorbet.  You can add chocolate or top with sprinkles or other toppings if desired.  For easy cleanup the components are dishwasher safe!

 

yonanas 6

yonanas 3

yonanas 5

Yonanas is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own Yonanas machine.  Thank you Yonanas for the review machine and for sponsoring this sweet giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Yonanas Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.   Good Luck!!!

Continue reading


44 Comments

Filed under Cooking, Giveaway, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review, Shopping

Video Review of Caramel MATCHAccino Green Tea Latte/Frappe From RedLeafTea.com

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Enjoy this video review of MATCHAccino Green Tea Latte/Frappe from RedLeafTea.com

 

 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.


Leave a Comment

Filed under Cooking, Health, Main Page Post, Recipes, Reviews

Vacu Vin Carafe and Citrus Press Review and Giveaway!!!

Vacu Vin logo
We all know how good water is for us and if you are looking for an easy way to add  natural flavors to water, the Vacu Vin Carafe and Citrus Press is what you need.  Not only is it aesthetically pleasing  but it is so functional as well.  Just fill the carafe with ice-cold water and add fresh herbs like mint or parsley if you like and then use the handy press to squeeze the juice from lemons, limes or oranges.  Keep the carafe in the refrigerator for refreshing flavored water to quench your thirst.  The carafe is unbreakable and dishwasher safe so care is a breeze!  Below you can enter to win a Vacu Vin Carfe and Citrus Press and also check out our review and giveaway for a Vacu Vin Instant Marinater and the review on the Vacu Vin Pineapple Slicer.
vacu vin carafe pic
vacu_vin_citrus_carafe_press_

The Carafe & Citrus Press has three components, each with a unique functionality. The beautifully shaped plastic carafe is unbreakable and will not crack when he falls. On top of the carafe, the bowl of the Citrus Press can be firmly attached. If the carafe is filled with water with mint leaves, lemon wedges or ice cubs, the filter in the bowl will hold them back when you pour the water. In order to squeeze a citrus fruit, cut them in half and place the fruit in the bowl. By turning the press into the fruit, the juice is released and runs through the bowl and into the carafe. The shell will remain on the press and can easily be thrown away. You can also use the separate press for squeezing a lemon over a salad or baked fish. The carafe and bowl can be closed off with the press making sure that flies or dust will not reach you lemonade.

  • Unbreakable carafe
  • Screw closure between bowl and carafe
  • Bowl works as a filter
  • Press can be used separately
  • Press can be used as a lid
  • Dishwasher safe
vacu vin carafe
vacu vin carafe and press
vacu vin carafe and press 1
vacu vin carafe and press 3
vacu vin carafe and press 2
vacu vin carafe and press 4
vacu vin carafe press 5
vacu vin carafe press pic glass
Vacu Vin is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a Vacu Vin Carafe and Citrus Press!  Thank you Vacu Vin for the review product and for  sponsoring this refreshing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.
Vacu Vin Carafe and Citrus Press Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

10 Comments

Filed under Cooking, Giveaway, Main Page Post, Reviews

Campbell’s Soup, “Address Your Heart” Heart Healthy Tips, Recipes & More!!!

My family tries to live a healthy lifestyle, that includes exercising, eating right, living green and toxin free and getting enough rest.  It can be hard to find the time to prepare healthy meals and so recipes that make it easy to prepare healthy dinners my family will like are always a huge help.  Having healthy snacks ready is a great way not to succumb to less than healthy options when you are feeling a need to snack or curb your hunger.  Having cut up veggies you can pair with a healthy dressing or dip is a great way to avoid greasy chips or calorie filled cakes and cookies.  Fruit and veggies smoothies are delicious and filling and pack a punch of energy.  Simple planning can help you live a “Heart Healthy” life and take charge of your health!

Health is foremost on people’s minds, keeping your family in tip-top shape can be a challenge in these busy times. Campbell’s Soup wants you to “Address Your Heart” with Heart Healthy Tips, recipes and more!

Visit AddressYourHeart.com to get heart-healthy tips, including 21 Campbell’s recipes that are certified by the AHA and product coupons, as well as Facebook, for the latest Campbell’s recipes and offers.

Click HERE for money-saving coupons and special offers on Campbell’s products.  I have posted some delicious Campbell’s recipes below that you may want to try for dinner and just see how delicious it can be to eat  heart healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post is sponsored by Campbell’s but as usual all of my views, words and opinions are 100% my own.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Cooking, Health, Recipes, Uncategorized

Lékué 12×16″ Silicone, Clear Baking Mat Review & Giveaway!!!

Lekue Logo

I love to bake and I have stone counters which are great for rolling out dough but it can be messy and require flour which causes most of the mess.  With the Lékué 12×16″ Silicone, Clear Baking Mat, I can roll my dough without the need for flour and then just wipe it and put it away.  The mat is also able to be used for kneading and can be placed on a baking sheet as well for even baking.  Whether using it for a work area or cookie sheet liner it eliminates the need for greasing or adding flour.  This cuts calories and time.  I made some of my favorite cut out soft sugar cookies and it performed beautifully.  It is a nice large sheet that has plenty of room for rolling and kneading cookies, breads or other like prep.Lékué 12×16″ Silicone, Clear Baking Mat

Lekue mat

Lekue

My hands are wet, did not want you to think I was sweating, lol.

My hands are wet, did not want you to think I was sweating, lol.

Leuke2

Leuke3

Leuke4

Leuke5

Lékué is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a Lékué 12×16″ Silicone, Clear Baking Mat!  Thank you Lékué for the review mat and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Lékué 12×16″ Silicone, Clear Baking Mat Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:  

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

Continue reading


18 Comments

Filed under Cooking, Giveaway, Recipes, Reviews

Adorable Mickey Mouse Theme Cookies & Cupcakes!!!

Having a Disney party?  Maybe a Mickey Mouse theme?  If so you may want to try these easy to make adorable party cookies and cupcakes.  You will need Oreos, red chocolate melts and white chocolate chips for the cookies and cupcakes, frosting, Oreo Minis, and colorful nonpareils  and sprinkles for the cupcakes.

For the cookies follow along with the pictures for the simple steps:

Your ingredients to make the cookies.

Your ingredients to make the cookies.

 

Melt the chocolate per the instructions on the package.

Melt the chocolate per the instructions on the package.

 

Dip half the oreo in the melted chocolate, and place on a silicone lined baking tray or parchment paper to harden.

Dip half the oreo in the melted chocolate, and place on a silicone lined baking tray or parchment paper to harden.

Put 2 white chocolate chips to look like buttons on the red chocolate while still wet.

Put 2 white chocolate chips to look like buttons on the red chocolate while still wet.

Then let the whole confection harden.

Then let the whole confection harden.

 

mm oreo 5

When they have hardened, they are ready to serve to your Mouseketeers!!!

When they have hardened, they are ready to serve to your Mouseketeers!!!

 

Bake your favorite flavor cupcakes and use your favorite white frosting.  I make my own buttercream but you could use canned frosting if you want.  Frost your cupcakes and then add colorful nonpareils or sprinkles and two Mini Oreos for ears.  Super easy and super cute for all the clubhouse guests.

mmoreo1

mmoreo

Hope you enjoyed this and share with me if you try it!  I have more Mickey treats coming up.

 


Leave a Comment

Filed under Cooking, Entertainment, Main Page Post, Recipes