Parsley Herbed Red Potatoes Side Dish Recipe

I made this fabulous recipe a few days ago and my family just loved it. The best part is that it only requires a few ingredients, its easy to prepare and works up quickly.

Parsley Herbed Red Potatoes Recipe

10 small red potatoes
4-5 teaspoons of butter
2 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons dried chives

Wash your potatoes and cut in half or quarters depending on their size. Place potatoes into a large pot of warm water and bring to a rapid boil. Turn down the heat to medium and cook over medium heat until the potatoes are fork tender. Be very careful to not overcook them or they will fall a part and be mushy. Once they are tender, drain water. In a glass measuring cup combine the butter, parsley and chives and microwave on high for 30 seconds or until hot and the better has melted. Gently toss the butter mixture with the potatoes and serve immediately.

Homemade Milk Chocolate Bark With A Lot Of Goodies Recipe

Over the weekend I was hungry for some homemade chocolate bark candy so I decided to make my own. Here are the ingredients you will need to make some delicious chocolate bark.

Milk Chocolate Bark Recipe

1 full tub Baker's Milk Chocolate Discs
1/2 cup mini marshmallows
1/4 cup broken pretzel bits
1/4 cup broken graham crackers
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
nonstick vegetable spray

Follow the directions on the Baker's Milk Chocolate and melt the chocolate discs in your microwave. Once melted, pour the chocolate into a mixing bowl. Stir in the marshmallows, pretzels, graham crackers and chopped peanuts. You can omit any of those items that you don't like.

Lightly spray a round glass pie pan with nonstick vegetable spray and spoon/pour your chocolate batter into it. Place foil or a lid on top and place into the refrigerator for 30 minutes so it sets up. Remove from refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. You can break it up into pieces (like a brittle) and store in an airtight canister or you can cut it into slices.

Review and Giveaway - Alouette Cheese!

I would like to introduce you today to a company called Alouette who makes the most delicious cheese and cheese spread products. Recently, the company sent me some coupons so that I could go out and get a few of their products and do a product review for those who read and follow my foodie blog.

Alouette makes 6 different types of cheese such as: soft spreadable cheese, creme de brie, baby brie, creme fraiche, elegante and crumbled cheese.

Alouette is dedicated to producing cheeses of the highest quality and intend that every customer experience is a satisfying one. All of Alouette and Chavrie cheese is gluten-free as well as Kosher. All of their products are pasteurized and more importantly...all of their suppliers are required to sign a contract ensuring that they do not use growth hormones on their animals. What does all of this mean to the consumer? A better quality product!

The recipe that I made a few days ago is the Alouette Creamy Cucumber Canapes and I must admit...I was not disappointed with this one! This recipe is super easy to prepare and only takes a few minutes. This would make a great appetizer for your parties or for family picnics.



Alouette Creamy Cucumber Canapes Recipe
Servings: 22-28

Ingredients:

1 English hothouse cucumber, about 12-15 inches long
1 pkg. (6.5 oz.) Alouette Light Cucumber Dill Spreadable Cheese
½ cup red bell pepper, diced
½ cup scallions, diced
1 tsp. dried dill
28 fresh dill sprigs

*please note ~ there are some variations of their recipe over on their web site.

Directions:

Cut cucumbers in ½ inch rounds, place on a cookie sheet that has been lined with paper towels. With melon baller or a grapefruit spoon, remove most of the seeds (leave enough for a base). Combine Alouette Spreadable Cheese, red pepper, scallions, and dill. Mix well. Using a pastry bag, pipe approximately ½ tbsp. of the cheese mixture into the hollowed cucumber slice. If a pastry bag is not available, simply spoon the product into the cucumber slice. Garnish with a spring of dill. Chill until ready to serve.

Note: this spread can also be served in Belgian endive spears, on crackers or on cocktail size pumpernickel rounds.

You should really check out the recipe section over on the Alouette web site as you will find recipes such as: Herbed Chicken in Pastry, Alouette Stuffed Mushroom Caps, Sundried Tomato & Basil Bisque, Stuffed Peppadew Peppers, Berries & Cream Yogurt Parfait, French Chantilly Cream, Dark Chocolate Truffle Cups and Alouette Frittata. You will find numerous recipes to suit your taste buds and more importantly, all of them are easy to prepare.

Alouette was kind enough to send me some extra coupons for free Alouette Cheese for me to give away to one of my blog readers! yeah!

Prize: 2 Coupons for FREE Alouette Cheese!

Mandatory Entry: You must be a public follower of my blog. Next, head on over to the Alouette web site and tell me something you learned or tell me the name of a recipe that I didn't mention in my review that you would love to make!

Bonus Entries:

3 Bonus Entries - Grab My Button From My Blog & Place It On Your Blog.
1 Bonus Entry - Follow My Blog Using Google Friend Connect (Public Follower)
1 Bonus Entry - Follow Shelly On Twitter.
1 Bonus Entry - Tweet About The Giveaway (daily) & Leave Status Link.
1 Bonus Entry - Enter One Of My Other Giveaways & Tell Me Which One
5 Bonus Entries - Blog about my giveaway including an active link to my blog and to my Alouette Cheese. Leave 5 separate comments.

Copy & Paste Tweet:

Review & Giveaway - Enter to win some delicious Alouette Cheese over on the SNB Foodie Blog at http://bit.ly/axTNFu #giveaway #foodie #food

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated in any way for this giveaway other than receiving free coupons from Alouette Cheese to purchase the product for my review. My thoughts, opinions and words are my own. Please read my Terms of Service & Dislaimer Polices before entering this giveaway. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada Only and will end on March 20th, 2010 at Midnight EST. One winner will be randomly selected via Random.org on March 20th, 2010.

Easy Pecan Caramel Apple Wedges Recipes

If eating caramel apples on a stick is not your cup of tea...then you should try this easy recipe for caramel apple wedges. It makes a great snack or appetizer and kids just love it!

Here is what you will need:

4 apples (eating variety)
water
8 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter (not margarine)
3/4 cup pecans

Wash, core and peel your apples. Remove any blemishes if needed. Place apples in a pan along with just enough water to cover them and simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Remove them from the hot water with a slotted spoon and place them in a medium sized bowl. (Reserve the water)

Now you will want to add the brown sugar, butter and pecans to the water and bring it to a rapid boil. Boil this mixture for 15 minutes and then pour it over your apple wedges. You will want to serve this warm so let it cool down for about 10 minutes before serving.

Winner! Spread Heads Giveaway!

We have a winner! I used random.org to select our winner of the Spread Heads Giveaway.

Congrats to Crystal Needy!!!

Thank you Spread Heads for sponsoring our Giveaway!

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 3

#3 Crystal said...
I follow your blog #2




http://my.tupperware.com/Ravish30

Easy To Make Meatloaf Muffin Cups Recipe

Do you have a favorite meatloaf recipe? If so, have you ever made your meatloaf in a muffin tin instead of a loaf pan? If not...give it a try sometime!

I often will make our meatloaf in a muffin tin as it saves on baking time. Plus, I love to freeze fully-cooked meals for future use...so baking my meatloafs in a muffin tin makes really nice portions that I can freeze easily. In addition, if you are dieting and looking for portion control, this is the way to go.

Just take your favorite meatloaf recipe (or look under my beef recipe catagory here on my blog for meatloaf recipes) and instead of baking it in a loaf pan, bake it in a muffin tin. You will cut down on your baking time and you don't have to grease your muffin tin as the beef doesn't stick.



If you are looking to freeze them for a future meal, let them completely cool and then wrap each one in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and then place into a zipper closure bag or plastic freezer container.

Yummy Ham Pot Pie Recipe

I had some left over ham from a special dinner that I had made last month and had frozen my leftovers...so a few days ago I decided to thaw out my fully-cooked leftover ham and make some ham pot pie.

Ham Pot Pie Recipe

4 cups of fully-cooked ham (pulled apart into bite size chunks)
1-3 teaspoons of ham bouillon paste
salt and pepper to taste
2-3 teaspoons parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped onions
1/4 cup finely chopped carrots
3 large potatoes, peeled and diced
1 pkg. pot pie bows or pot pie squares

Fill a large pan with hot water and cook your potpie bows for 5 minutes and then turn down the heat. Add in your fully-cooked ham, bouillon paste, salt, pepper, parsley, onions, potatoes and carrots. Simmer this mixture over low heat for 45 to 60 minutes or until potatoes are done

Kathy's Cranberry Cherry Pie Recipe

If you love cranberries and cherries, you have got to try my friend Kathy's Cranberry Cherry Pie recipe...it is so delish! It has the perfect blend of fruit and is not too tart nor too sweet. Not only that...its super easy to make and bake!

Kathy's Cranberry Cherry Pie

2 premade pie crusts
2 cups frozen cranberries
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
21 ounce can cherry pie filling

Prepare your pie crusts, placing the bottom crust in a 9" pie pan. Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cranberries, granulated sugar and cornstarch together until well combined. Stir in the cherry pie filling. Spoon the fruit mixture into your pie crust. Top with the second pie crust and flute the edges. Cut several slits in the top crust. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until your crust is golden brown.

Cook Book Winners!!!

I have finally verified all entries for both of the cook book giveaways. I then used random.org to select the numbers and here are the results.

For the Hershey's Classic Recipes Cook Book #64

Sophia said...

Tweeted
http://twitter.com/WorkAtHomeSpace/status/8510455398

February 1, 2010 2:26

For the Make Ahead Meals For Busy Moms Cook Book #102

Lauren said...

#3 of 3 :D May have to scroll down just alittle to see the button in the sidebar on http://momsonlineretreat.com

February 3, 2010 10:50 AM

Thank you to our sponsor's and thanks to everyone who entered! I wish you good luck in our current giveaways here on SNB and over on TCC.


http://my.tupperware.com/Ravish30

Giveaway - Enter To Win 3 Tupperware Freezer Mate Containers!

Have you seen all of the great products that Tupperware has these days? If not, you really should check out Tupperware!

I have decided to giveaway a brand new set of Tupperware Freezer Mate Containers to one of my blog followers/readers.

Tupperware Freezer Mates Containers Product Information

Now it's easy to organize your freezer, make it more energy efficient and save money, too. The containers of this modular, stackable storage system feature rounded corners and recessed bottoms that allow maximum air flow for faster, more efficient freezing and thawing. And you can label each container for faster identification, too! These fantastic freezer containers can also be used in the refrigerator and they are dishwasher safe!

This set includes: one 2 3/4 cup container and two 1 cup containers with purplicious seals. Retail Value of Approximately $20.00

Buy it: You can purchase Tupperware Products at Shelly's Tupperware Store.

Win It: You can enter my giveaway for a chance to win the 3 piece Tupperware Freezer Mate Container Set described above.

This giveaway is open to USA and Canadian Residents Only. The giveaway will close at 12:00am EST (midnight) on March 7th, 2010. One winner will be selected from all valid entries/comments via random.org

To enter this give away you must FOLLOW my blog (public follower)

Here is how you earn your giveaway entries:

Main Entry: (Mandatory) Go to Shelly's web site and name one item that is currently on sale this month. (if you don't do the mandatory, none of your bonus entries will count).

Bonus Entries:

Leave a separate comment for each thing that you do.

2 Bonus Entries - Name 2 other Tupperware products that you would love to own.
3 Bonus Entries - Grab My Button From My Blog & Place It On Your Blog.
1 Bonus Entry - Follow My Blog Using Google Friend Connect (Public Follower)
1 Bonus Entry - Follow Shelly On Twitter.
1 Bonus Entry - Tweet About The Giveaway (daily) & Leave Status Link.
1 Bonus Entry - Enter One Of My Other Giveaways & Tell Me Which One
5 Bonus Entries - Blog about my giveaway including an active link to my blog and to my Tupperware Store. Leave 5 separate comments.
10 Bonus Entries - Purchase anything from my Tupperware store before March 7th and then come back here and leave me 10 comments that you did! It can be anything, big or small!

Copy and Paste Tweet:

~ Giveaway ~ Enter To Win 3 Fabulous Tupperware Freezer Mates Containers at http://bit.ly/aqmZD6 @Ravish30 Ends 3-1 #Giveaways

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated in any way for this giveaway & I am the sole sponsor of this giveaway. My thoughts, opinions and words are my own. Please read my Terms of Service & Dislaimer Polices before entering this giveaway. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada Only and will end on March 7th, 2010 at Midnight EST. One winner will be randomly selected via Random.org on March 8th, 2010.


http://my.tupperware.com/Ravish30

Delicious Herbed Roasted Potatoes Recipe

If you love roasted potatoes and are looking for something a little different, I think you will enjoy these herb braised roasted potatoes. They make an excellent side dish with chicken, turkey, pork or with beef. This recipe will make 4 servings.

Herb Roasted Potatoes

2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 1/2 pounds small red skinned potatoes
4 small shallots, peeled
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
salt and black pepper to taste
1 cup chicken broth (canned or homemade)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Stir in the sliced onion and simmer until the onion becomes soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir in the potatoes and shallots, stir in 1 sprig of rosemary, season with salt and black pepper to taste. Turn the heat up on your burner to the medium-high setting and cook until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove them from the heat and add the last rosemary sprig and chicken broth.

Transfer the potato mixture to a 2 quart casserole dish and place in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Halfway through the baking cycle, stir and return back to the oven until they are done.

Easy To Make Chicken and Biscuits Recipe

If you are looking for an easy to prepare chicken and biscuits recipe, this is it! You will only need 9 ingredients to make this recipe. It will make 4-6 hearty servings.

Chicken and Biscuits

1/8 cup chopped onions
1 1/2 teaspoons butter, softened
4 cups chopped cooked chicken (we use white meat)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk (we use 2% milk)
1/2 cup chopped pimiento
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
6 frozen biscuits, thawed

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray the bottom of your baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Stir in the chopped onion and saute the onion in the butter until they are soft. Combine the onion, chopped chicken, soup, sour cream, milk and pimiento in a large bowl and mix until all ingredients are combined. Spoon mixture into your baking dish and bake for 17 minutes. Sprinkle the baked layer with 1/2 of the shredded cheddar cheese and arrange biscuits over the top. Sprinkle the other half of cheddar cheese on top of the biscuits and place back into the oven for an additional 17 minutes.

Crock Pot - Beef Roast and Potatoes Recipe

A few days ago my hubby asked me to make him a beef roast with some whole potatoes in the crock pot so I was more than happy to make him one of his favorite meals. Besides...I love using my crock pot as it makes the best dinner style meals for my family.

Crock Pot Beef Roast and Potatoes

2 1/2 lb. beef roast
8 to 10 small whole white potatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
4 beef bouillon cubes or 1 cup beef broth/stock
2 teaspoons parsley
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Place your roast into the crock pot and cover with water. Turn the setting up to high and cook for 1 hour on high. Wash and cut your small whole potatoes in half, leaving the skins on. Place bouillon cubes or beef broth into crock pot and then add all of your veggies, salt, pepper and parsley.

You can cook the roast on high for 3 additional hours or turn the setting down to low and cook for 6 hours.

Grandma's Delicious Chocolate Chip Carrot Cake Recipe

Growing up as a child...one of my favorite cakes to eat was my Grandma's homemade chocolate chip carrot cake...to this day, it is still one of my favorite cakes. You can top this cake with vanilla or cream cheese frosting...homemade or store bought. As a personal preference, I like it with cream cheese frosting!

Chocolate Chip Carrot Cake Recipe

1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 cup finely shredded carrots
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

frosting of your choice: vanilla or cream cheese

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease and flour a 13 x 9" glass baking dish. In a large mixing bowl, combine together the granulated sugar, vegetable oil and eggs with your electric mixer set on medium. (about 2 minutes). Stir in the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, baking soda and table salt until the batter is well combined. Stir in the shredded carrots and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into your baking dish and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the cake tests done. Remove from the oven and let cake cool and then frost with vanilla or cream cheese frosting.

Crock Pot - Grandma's Sunday Beef Pot Roast Recipe

When I was a child, my grandmother used to make all kinds of pot roasts for our Sunday dinners. I can remember all of the grandkids gathering at my Grandma's house every Sunday for grandma family time...of course, all of us grandkids just wanted to get together to play...but the adults enjoyed eating all of grandma's homemade food.

One of the recipes I grew up eating was a beef pot roast that my grandmother would put into the crock pot early in the morning...by the time 4 or 5 rolled around, it was done and ready to eat.

Crock Pot Beef Pot Roast

2 1/2 lb. beef pot roast
salt and black pepper to taste
3-4 potatoes, unpeeled
2-3 large carrots
2 large celery stalks
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 teaspoons rosemary
3/4 teaspoon thyme
1/2 to 3/4 cup of beef broth (low-salt)

Preparing the Beef Roast: You will want to trim off any of the fat that remains on the roast. Season the roast with salt and black pepper to taste and cut into bite-sized pieces.

Preparing the Vegetables: Under cool running water, wash and scrub your potatoes to remove debris and dirt, set aside. Cut the carrots and celery down to 1" pieces and slice your onion into thin slices.

Place the potaotes, carrots, celery and onion into your crock pot. Add in one bay leaf, rosemary and thyme. Arrange the beef chunks over the vegetables. Pour in the beef broth. Cover your crock pot and cook on high heat for 4-5 hours or low heat for 6-8 hours, or until your beef is fork tender and done. Remove the bay leaf and then transfer your beef and veggies to a serving platter. NOTE: MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE THE BAY LEAF!!! Serve immediately.

Canning ~ Crookneck Squash Pickles Recipe

I absolutely love to can and every spring, summer and fall...you can usually find me canning something every week. When winter rolls around...we are usually stocked up on delicious foods that I personally canned from the fruits and veggies that I harvested from our summer garden.

If you grown squash in your garden...this is a great way to use up that squash and to turn it into some delicious tasting pickles that you preserve by home canning them in a water bath canner.

Crookneck Squash Pickles Recipe

8 cups sliced thin crookneck squash
2 cups sliced onion
1 tablespoon salt
1 cup diced green pepper
2 cups cider vinegar
3 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon mustard seed

Combine squash and onion, sprinkle with salt and let stand for 1 hour. Combine remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Pack squash and onion into hot sterilized jars. Cover with vinegar mixture leaving a 1/4" head space. Seal in a boiling water bath canner for 15 minutes. Remove from canner and let them cool down. Once cool...check to make sure they sealed properly.

Review and Giveaway ~ Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

Product Review and Giveaway ~ Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

I was recently contacted by the PR Department for Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion and asked if I would be interested in doing a product review and giveaway for their lotion. My reply was...I would be happy to give it a try.

First let me tell you about this fantastic product. The Skin MD Shielding Lotion is manufactured here in the USA by a company called 21st Century Formulations, based out of Beverly Hills, CA.

Here is some information from the Skin MD Web Site:

If you've been looking for a skin care product that can heal dry skin and keep the ravages of time at bay, take a look at a breakthrough based on years of research by doctors and chemists - shielding lotion.

A Shielding Lotion is far more effective as a dry skin treatment than conventional moisturizing lotions or protective creams. If you suffer from dry skin, you know that just using a moisturizing lotion doesn't solve the problem.

The company sent me several sample packets along with a full size 4 ounce bottle to try out. I got the package 3 days ago and immediately got busy trying out the product.

Here are my personal results: Since I have extremely dry hands from frequent hand washing, I decided I would first try it out on my hands. I applied a pea-sized dab of lotion to each hand and rubbed it in for 10 seconds. Yes...you read that right, 10 seconds! Unlike messy, greasy and oily conventional lotions, this shielding lotion is quickly absorbed into the skin. Within 5 minutes, I noticed that my hands looked more youthful and less dry. Wow, I was so impressed with the shielding lotion so I decided to tear off my socks and put some on each of my feet and then I put on a clean pair of chenille socks. Later that night when I took my socks off to go to bed, I noticed that my feet were 50% softer after just one use of the shielding lotion. There is nothing worse than laying on soft cotton sheets and having your dry skinned heels snagging up your sheets! The next morning I decided to try some of the shielding lotion on my face so I used a dab of lotion about the size of a nickel and put it on my face in my T-Zone and cheeks area. Within a few minutes I noticed a visible improvement in the redness, dry blotchiness and flaking that I normally have in those areas. Furthermore, when I went to put on my foundation, it just glided over the areas that I had applied the shielding lotion. Yeah!!! Finally...a light-weight non-oily lotion that can be used on the face and under your makeup!

I have personally been using this fabulous lotion supplied to me by the generous folks at Skin MD Natural for the past 3 days and I can tell you in all honesty, I will now be a life-long user of this product! If you are a chef, cook, waitress, doctor, nurse, daycare provider or a parent who frequently washes your hands, you need this product too!

Plus...I get contact dermatitis when I wear certain rings on my fingers. Yesterday after I applied the shielding lotion, I put 2 rings on that normally cause a reaction for me...been wearing them for 24 hours now & no reactions!!!!

Buy It: You can buy Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion online via their web site or at retail stores near you. You can use their store locator to find one in your neighborhood.

Win It: One lucky winner will receive their very own 4 oz. bottle of Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion, an $18.00 US Retail Value!

Mandatory Entry: Go to the Skin MD Natural web site and answer this question: What is a shielding lotion? Note: You must complete the mandatory entry before completing any bonus entries.

Bonus Entries:

Earns 1 Entry: Use the store locator on the site and tell me where you can purchase the Skin MD Natural Lotion.
Earns 1 Entry: Tell me why you need this shielding lotion.
Earns 1 Entry: Follow my blog via google friend connect.
Earns 2 Entries: Follow Skin MD Natural on twitter.
Earns 2 Entries: Follow Shelly on Twitter.
Earns 1 Entry: Enter my other current giveaways, earn 1 additional entry per giveaway that you enter on my site.
Earns 3 Entries: Grab My Button From My Blog & Place It On Your Blog.
Earns 1 Entry: Tweet about this giveaway on twitter (daily) and earn an additional entry. Please leave status link in your entry/comment.

Copy and Paste Tweet:

Treat Your Skin Right! Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion Product Review & Giveaway at http://bit.ly/ah1ISm #giveaway @Skinmdnatural @Ravish30

Thank You Skin MD Natural for giving me a bottle of your fantastic shielding lotion to review and to giveaway here on the Shakin 'N Bakin In The Kitchen with Shelly Blog!

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated in any way for this giveaway other than receiving a FREE bottle of Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion. My thoughts, opinions and words are my own. Please read my Terms of Service & Dislaimer Polices before entering this giveaway. This giveaway is open WORLD-WIDE and will end on February 25th, 2010 at Midnight EST.

Mustard Glazed Chicken Breasts Recipe

A few years ago, one of my friends gave me this recipe to make mustard glazed chicken breasts and let me tell you...it quickly became a favorite here at our home. This delicious dinner recipe will make 4 servings.

Mustard Glazed Chicken Breasts

4 boneless chicken breasts, skin on
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus a little bit more
salt and black pepper to taste
4 tablespoons butter, softened
2 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3/4 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
3/4 cup canned chicken broth (we use low salt broth)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. If you are on a low-salt diet, omit the salt. Combine 2 tablespoons of butter with the dijon mustard, reserve 2 teaspoons for sauce. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, mix with the bread crumbs and chopped thyme.

In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sear the chicken until crispy. Remove from heat. Spread the Dijon mustard mixture over the chicken and sprinkle the bread crumbs on top. You will want to do this to both sides of the chicken breast. Place the chicken in your preheated oven and roast the chicken until it has been completely cooked, about 30-40 minutes. Transfer chicken to platter. In your frying pan, combine the chicken broth with the whipping cream over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes. It should become thick and creamy. Once it is done, remove from heat and stir in the remaining Dijon mustard mixture. Serve this sauce over your chicken breasts.

Delicious Homemade Vanilla Pudding Recipe

My husband is a huge fan of homemade pudding and I don't mind making it for him as long as I have easy recipes on hand. When it comes to making homemade vanilla pudding, this is the recipe that he likes the most...he says it has the perfect blend of vanilla and the pudding is rich, smooth and creamy...just the way he likes it. This recipe will make 4 servings.

Vanilla Pudding

2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 cups of milk (we use 2% milk)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and the salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth and then whisk in the 2 1/2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Combine the milk and remaining granulated sugar in a medium sized saucepan. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat stirring often with a silicone nonstick spatula. Once it has come to a boil, slowly pour the milk into the egg mixture and whisk for 1 minute. Return the mixture back to the pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil again, stirring constantly until the mixture has thickened (takes about 3 minutes). Remove from heat and transfer the mixture to a medium sized bowl. Whisk in the butter and vanilla extract until its well combined. Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours so that it sets.

Friendship Cake - Brandied Fruit Cake Recipe

Like to cook and bake? Well...of course you do otherwise you wouldn't be reading my blog! Today I am sharing with you all a recipe that a guest blogger gave to me to share with all of you.

Have you ever had a friendship cake? The name comes from the starter sets being given to friends to make their own cakes, thus Friendship Cake. Each batch of fruit will make 3 cakes and 3 starter sets, 1 for yourself and 2 to give to friends.
If you don't have a starter set you can make this blend and start your own!
The cake is nice and moist and full of fruit and I like it with a little butter spread on it.

Brandied Fruit Cake - Friendship Cake Recipe

Use glass container to brandy fruit. DO NOT put lid on tight! It must breathe.
Stir with a wooden spoon. You will have enough starter juice to pass on to 2 to 3 people and keep one yourself.

Instructions and Ingredients

1 1/2 cups starter juice
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 qt. Sliced peaches with juice
Stir daily for 10 days.

On the 10th day add
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 pt. Can pineapple chunks with juice
Stir for 10 days.

On the 20th day add
2 - 9oz. jars maraschino cherries (Drained)
Stir for 10 more days
on 30th day BAKE CAKE!

1 1/2 cups of the Brandied fruit drained
1 box yellow cake mix
2/3 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 cup walnuts
1 small box French Vanilla instant pudding mix

Combine all ingredients, mix and bake in greased and floured Tube or Bundt pan.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Thank you guest blogger for sharing one of your favorite recipes with us!

CLOSED - Giveaway - Win A Set Of 4 Spread Heads

Have you ever heard of the Spread Heads? If not, let me introduce you to them. The Spread Heads (tm) are manufactured by Black Lab Products, LLC and were invented by Holland Henton. You can read about the company on their About Us page on their site.

The Spread Heads recently sent me a 4 piece package so that I could try out their 'quirky' but 'useful' products and write up a product review. They will also be giving away a 4 piece set FREE to one of my fantastic blog readers.

Here is what I received for my product review: Ketchup Charlie, Mustard Marvin, Toothpaste Pete and Toothpaste Oscar. What really struck me from the beginning was how cute they were just sitting in their packages. I love the 'quirkiness' of the graphics, colors and designs on their packages.

Ketchup Charlie and Mustard Marvin



The whole idea behind them is basically to make putting ketchup and mustard on your food...Fun! Children will just love having red ketchup coming out of the nostrils of Kethcup Charlie or Mustard Marvin will be spewing yellow mustard out of his mouth. Children of all ages would get a real 'kick' out of using these and I am sure they would be a great conversational piece at your dinner table or family picnics! When its time to put them on a new bottle, clean up is a snap as they are dishwasher safe.

Toothpaste Pete and Toothpaste Oscar



Toothpaste Pete (white dog) and Toothpaste Oscar (orange cat) are a great way to make brushing your teeth fun and to encourage children to get into the bathroom and give their teeth a good brushing. Simply replace your exhisting toothpaste cap with a Toothpaste Pete or Oscar cap and Presto...brushing their teeth becomes more fun!



My Personal Opinion: I think these items are quirky, unique, fun and certainly a great conversational piece at the dinner/picnic table. I think they would make great Easter Basket Stuffers, Holiday Stocking Stuffers, Great Workplace Gag Gifts and just plain fun gifts...for both children and adults.

Buy It: Vist the Spread Heads web site and you can buy Ketchup Charlie and/or Mustard Marvin for only $3.99 each. You can buy Toothpaste Pete and/or Oscar for only $4.99 each.

Win It: One winner will receive 1 package containing all 4 of the Spread Heads mentioned in my product review. (Charlie, Marvin, Pete and Oscar), a US $17.96 Retail Value!

Main Entry: Visit the Spread Heads web site and answer this question "Does the inventor really exist and does he make live appearances?" Please leave the main entry in your first comment. Bonus entries will not count unless you complete the main entry.

Bonus Entries: Complete the bonus entries for more chances to win!

Earns 1 Entry: Follow Spread Heads on Twitter, leave comment that you are.
Earns 1 Entry: Fan the Spread Heads on Facebook.
Earns 2 Entries: Watch the Spread Heads You Tube Video and let me know what you liked about it. Leave 2 separate comments.
Earns 2 Entries: Follow my blog via google friend connect.
Earns 1 entry: Follow me on twitter.
Earns 1 entry: You can earn a daily entry by tweeting the following:

Review and Giveaway - Enter To Win 4 Fun and Quirky Spread Heads! @Spreadheads http://bit.ly/dmJ41K #giveaway Dinner Table Fun! @Ravish30

Earns 1 entry: Enter any of my other giveaways and let me know which one(s).
Earns 5 Entries: Make a purchase from the Spread Heads Store and come back to let me know so I can verify your purchase.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry that you complete along with your email address so that I can contact you if you are the winner. This giveaway is only open to the US and will end at midnight EST on Feb. 20th, 2010.

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated in any way for this giveaway other than receiving the items mentioned in my review for free so that I could properly write an accurate review. My thoughts, opinions and words are my own. Please read my Terms of Service & Dislaimer Polices before entering this giveaway. This giveaway is open to the US Only and will end on February 20th, 2010 at Midnight EST.

Good Luck!

Delicous Double Crust Blueberry Pie Recipe

One of my all time favorite pies to make happens to be blueberry! My hubby is a cherry pie lover and I am the blueberry. The following recipe is the one I like to make as it has a double crust (bottom and top crust). You can either make a homemade crust or purchase a double pie crust at your local store.

Blueberry Pie Recipe

1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup flour
dash of salt
1 (20 ounce) bag of frozen blueberries (unsweetened and thawed)
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter
Pie Crust (homemade or store bought)

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, flour and salt. Toss the thawed blueberries into the sugar mixture and lightly mix together, being careful to not crush the berries. Spoon mixture into an unbaked pie shell. Sprinkle the top with lemon juice and dots of butter. Add your top crust and flute the edges. I like to cut an X through the top crust to allow steam to escape during the baking process.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes or until done. If your crust starts getting too brown, you can cover it with some foil.



This pie didn't last too long after it was baked as my family absolutely loved it!