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Friday, June 28, 2013

Get Growing Ad Space #Giveaway



So who wouldn't love to advertise your blog or shop on four great blogs without spending a penny? 
 
I've teamed up with some awesome bloggers to offer an ad space prize pack valued at $45 from these great blogs: 


640x80 Ad Space

  600x75 Ad Space
 
  200x200 Ad Space

300x100 Ad Space


a Rafflecopter giveaway


CHECK OUT DOREE, A PRETTY AWESOME MOMMY & FOODIE @

50 Beat The Heat Pasta Salad Recipes

So I don't know about y'all but here in Texas we have entered the first level of hell & it is H.O.T!  We're already breaking into triple digits & June is typically the easiest of the summer months.  I might not survive August.

So in an effort to keep my summer & my kitchen a little bit cooler, I've put together a round up of 50 Beat The Heat Pasta Salad Recipes perfect for these summer temps!!





Here's a few of the recipes included:


White Lights on Wednesday: Chipotle & Roasted Corn Pasta Salad


This Gal Cooks: Greek Style Pasta Salad
Top Notch Mom: Perfect Pasta Salad




Head on over to The Mommy Blog Hoppers to check out the full round up!



THIS ROUNDUP PROUDLY SHARED AT ANY OF THESE FABULOUS PARTIES



Be sure to stay connected on social media for all the latest recipes & behind the scenes fun!
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Creamy Zucchini Parmesan Pasta

I'm a huge fan of the Dollar Tree.  I think I've told y'all that before but just in case I haven't ~ I <3 it!  And do you want to know why I love the Dollar Tree?

Mom's Test Kitchen: Creamy Zucchini Parmesan Pasta


Because of things like this!  For two weeks in a row the Dollar Tree in my area had these in stock!  Plus they had them on deal for 2 cans for $1!!  Yes, I understand that the Dollar Tree is primarily stocked with off brand items but the times that you can find deals like these make it all worth it!  And now they accept coupons too!  How can you not love a store like that?!?  {No offense to you, Kroger, but you have these cans priced at $2-$3!}


Mom's Test Kitchen: Creamy Zucchini Parmesan Pasta


And those cans let you make yummy dinners like this one.  This recipe originally called for chicken but I decided to turn it meatless & was going to buy an eggplant to dice up to put in it but then I saw that zucchini was on a really good sale this past week so I decided to channel some of the flavors of the Baked Zucchini Parmesan I've made before & we loved the results!!  It was an easy weeknight meal to put together, I actually put the casserole together that afternoon & let it sit in the fridge until I was ready to put it in the oven for dinner, I just let it cook for an extra 5-10 minutes to make sure it was good & hot!  And even though it was a pasta casserole with a creamy soup, it surprisingly wasn't a heavy dish at all!  This is one that will definitely end up in our meal rotation.


Mom's Test Kitchen: Creamy Zucchini Parmesan Pasta






CREAMY ZUCCHINI PARMESAN PASTA
YIELD: 6-8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 box (1 pound) penne pasta
  • 1 medium zucchini, halved & sliced thin
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 can (18 ounces) Progresso Recipe Starters Creamy Parmesan Basil cooking sauce
  • 2 cans (14.5 ounces) Italian style diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese {plus more for topping ~ optional}
  • 1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Saute the zucchini just until tender.

In a greased 9x13-inch casserole dish, combine the pasta, zucchini, cooking sauce, tomatoes and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil. {At this point you can place the foil covered dish in the fridge until you are ready to bake it if you'd like)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake the foil covered casserole for 30 minutes. Remove the foil; top the casserole with the bread crumbs and additional Parmesan cheese {cheese is optional}. Bake uncovered 8 to 10 minutes or until top just starts to brown and mixture is bubbly.


RECIPE INSPIRED BY: Progresso  


THIS RECIPE PROUDLY SHARED AT ANY OF THESE FABULOUS PARTIES


IN SEARCH OF MORE MEATLESS MEAL IDEAS?










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Getting That Perfect Presentation #MyPlatinum

DISCLOSURE: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.  All opinions are 100% mine.


After a year & a half of this blogging thing, y'all should be pretty clued in to the fact that I enjoy cooking.  I don't mind using my free time baking cookies or photographing plates.  The part I dislike the most about this food blogging life are the dishes.  I loathe doing dishes.  Seriously, I become like a 3 year old trying to get out of going to bed, coming up with every excuse in the book as to why I just can't do the dishes right now.  The Hubs gets off of work at 5, you'll find me in the kitchen at 4:59 doing the dishes so by the time he gets home everything is cleaned.  And lets not get started on my poor dishwasher.  I use and abuse that thing due to my utter detest of doing dishes.  Case in point...

Mom's Test Kitchen: Cascade Platinum Review




Mom's Test Kitchen: Cascade Platinum Review



And that's actually a pretty good load for me.  Normally there are at least a few more bowls, maybe even some plates & definitely a ton more silverware crammed in there.  So needless to say, this is one area that the generic stuff just doesn't cut it for me.  Which is why I absolutely love the new Cascade Platinum.  I already loved Cascade to begin with but now with the new Platinum line, I might possibly be able to throw the plates still covered in food into the dishwasher and have them come out clean.  And y'all don't want to look at nasty plates when you're checking out my yummy recipes now do you ;)

Cascade has realized how now, more than ever, thanks to the world's love of Pinterest & Instagram, people eat with their eyes & why presentation is just as important as the food you are preparing!  That's why Cascade has partnered with the one & only Gail Simmons, yep the one from Top Chef & Food+Wine Magazine!
  • From prep to plating: It’s more than just a great-tasting recipe, but also perfect presentation. Sparkling dishes, shining flat ware and spot-free glasses truly let you put your best food forward with culinary creations that pop!
  • Gail recommends impressing with a Platinum Presentation: “The easiest recipes pop with unexpected, gourmet presentations.  Drizzle bright sauces on sparkling white plates or layer desserts in crystal-clean glassware. Keep your presentation sparkling with Cascade Platinum, which keeps dishes perfect for anytime entertaining and impromptu guests.”
You can learn more about Cascade’s partnership with Gail Simmons by viewing videos available on the Cascade Facebook page and CascadeYouTube page.






Now for the goodies!!  Cascade is holding the Cascade “My Platinum” contest which is a four-week Instagram contest encouraging y'all to upload your photos related to the weekly contest themes. Show off how sparkly Cascade makes all your pots, pans and plates!

Visit the contest landing page for information on how to enter ~ each week, two contestants will be selected to receive a brand new Whirlpool dishwasher, plus one lucky grand prize winner will receive a Platinum kitchen makeover!


Good luck!!  If any of y'all win, I want to see pictures of your new dishwasher and/or kitchen!!!


FIND CASCADE: ONLINE | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM {#MYPLATINUM}


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DISCLOSURE: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.  All opinions are 100% mine.


CHECK OUT DOREE, A PRETTY AWESOME MOMMY & FOODIE @

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Wonderful Food Wednesday

Welcome to
Wonderful Food Wednesday- #43
  

Y'all ready for another week of Wonderful Food Wednesday??!  Thank you all so much for linking up each week!  You have no idea how much the three of us appreciate each & every one of you helping make this party such a success!!

Want to be featured? Post your best and we'll pick a few of our favorites to feature each week. Check back next week to see if you've been featured on Wonderful Food Wednesday. If you're featured, your recipe will also be pinned to our Wonderful Food Wednesday Pinterest board.

Leave us a comment and tell us what you're cooking up!


Wonderful Food Wednesday


Ready for this week's features? 

This week we're featuring all things bacon!  Because bacon is good!!
*please forgive us if we missed a bacon recipe*


 
BACON WRAPPED BBQ PORK CHOPS shared by What's Cooking in the Burbs
CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON COOKIES shared by Back For Seconds
BAKED BRUSSEL SPROUTS WITH BACON shared by Lori's Culinary Creations
CHICKEN BACON RANCH PIZZA shared by Moms & Munchkins
BACON & MAPLE SYRUP CUPCAKES shared by Recipes & Ramblins with Tumbleweed Contessa



Be sure to stop by all of these fabulous blogs to check out these recipes and lots of others.

If you've been featured, feel free to grab our button and place it on your sidebar:

 
 

RULES:

1. Follow your hosts Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel
and Jessica @ All She Cooks , Jaime @ Mom's Test Kitchen
*If you are a new follower please leave us a message/comment so that we can hop on over for a visit.
2. Visit as many blogs as you can, leave comments, follow and grab their recipes.

If you are interested in guest hosting for a week, please send an email to
twinstravelblog (at) gmail (dot) com


CHECK OUT DOREE, A PRETTY AWESOME MOMMY & FOODIE @

Monday, June 24, 2013

M&M Cookie Bars

  
Mom's Test Kitchen: M&M Cookie Bars

Mom's Test Kitchen: M&M Cookie Bars


I couldn't resist.  After making the Charleston Chew Cookie Bars, I just couldn't help myself in trying it out again.  This time I went with the classic M&Ms to see how they would play out!  Definitely does not disappoint!!  These cookie bars are slowly becoming one of my favorite desserts to make!  I'm already thinking about my next combo!!  :)


Mom's Test Kitchen: M&M Cookie Bars






M&M COOKIE BARS
YIELD: about 42 bars
INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 box (18.25 ounces) butter cake mix, dry
  • 5 oz evaporated milk
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1 package (3.18 ounces/6 pack of fun size) M&M's

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

With your mixer, beat the cake mix, evaporated milk and butter until combined. Mixture will be thick and sticky. Divide batter in half and press one half into the bottom of the pan. Bake until just set, about 8 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and place sprinkle the M&M candies on top of baked cake mix. Drop remaining batter on top of the candy in teaspoon sized amounts. Bake for 20-25 minutes longer until top begins to turn golden brown.

Cool completely before cutting into squares.



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SEARCHING FOR OTHER CANDY FILLED TREATS?








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