Food Family Finds | Illinois Mom Blogger and Foodie
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In celebration of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend and the official start of summer, Sam's Club is gearing up to challenge families everywhere to create a whole meal on a grill. Not only is this a great way to keep the mess to a minimum but it's a really healthy way to cook food. Grilling can also be fun as it brings the family outdoors and particularly fun for me becaue it gives me a chance to hand the apron over to my husband and let him cook … [Read more...]
In less than two weeks our kids will officially be on summer break and that's the moment that summer becomes real for me. It's marks the beginning of a three month stretch of backyard cook-outs, afternoons at the shaved ice stand, laughter in the pool and ice cold drinks. After spending months sipping hot cocoa and warm tea I enjoy the break that summer brings with an ice cold glass of orange juice for breakfast and frosty lemonade in the … [Read more...]
Now that Spring is in full swing with Summer just weeks away, it's time to start planning your get-together events. One of my favorite ways to host a party is with a theme and thanks to the new limited editions Tostitos Thins, it's easier than ever to create a pretty awesome Fiesta. Available for a limited time only, these lighter, thinner tortilla chips come in two flavors including Lime & Salt and TexMex. We put together a little Fiesta … [Read more...]
Since the weather is heating back up again it means our family doesn't get to enjoy our usual baked sweets as much as we like. To keep the house cool we avoid using the oven as much as possible. This means I often serve up an after dinner dessert that's not only quick and easy to make but incorporates store bought products with a semi-homemade twist. One of the family favorites is black forest cake. Since we're not using the oven, a fun … [Read more...]
Moms I talk to often spend time thinking about "me time" or rather spend time wishing about it. I do it often myself. Between the meals, the chores, potty breaks, school functions and everything else going on in our lives, me time, it's a rare thing. When I'm feeling exceptionally lucky I sneak off to the bathroom for a candle lit bubble bath, a cup of hot tea and an indulgent sweet treat. That's last part is only if the kids haven't sniffed it … [Read more...]
Three months ago I started a new chapter in my life that involved a lot of changes, especially in the way I was eating. I had a goal of losing 30 pounds and in order to meet that goal, I needed to thin out my life and a lot of calories. Part of that personal challenge meant losing some of the things I love the most like soda, potatoes, desserts and the most painful of all, cheeses. During my weight loss challenge I lost 20 lbs and I've got 10 to … [Read more...]
Looking for a vibrant dessert this Spring? You'll find it in the 5 Minutes for Food column where I guest posted today. Grilled pound cake with a side of tart lemon curd and fresh berries makes for amazing little dessert. Even if you've never made lemon curd before, I can tell you it's amazingly easy. Follow the link in the image below for the full recipe. … [Read more...]
If you're like our family, you're looking for easy ways to incorporate more natural and even organic foods in your lifestyle. This can often be a challenge with natural products not always available in the places you shop regularly. However, there's one new product that is easy to find and can be incorporated into your meals with little effort. Hormel recently added the Natural Choice line of meats found in the refrigerated section that come in … [Read more...]
Steak and potatoes, hands down the best meal in the world! At least for my husband and I. We rarely get a chance to go to an actual steakhouse having three kids and all but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a great steak at home. While I'm typically a Filet Mignon kinda girl, occasionally we'll stick to our budget and get a couple of small New York Strip steaks. It's a meal we keep pretty simple, seasoning our steaks with a lot of black … [Read more...]
The past weekend summed up in one word -- dreary. We spent most of our time inside hiding from the rain that came and went in 15 minute intervals all day long on Saturday. I cleaned, a lot. That's what you do when there's really nothing else to do while avoiding your spouse's annoying quirks when he's overly bored too. ;) In the week ahead I'm hoping to finalize my garden party menu, get the garden soil churned up and at some point find the … [Read more...]
