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The first week of back-to-school can be a HUGE adjustment for families transitioning from summer to more busy and rigid schedules. Options for simplifying dinner, packing quick and easy lunches and offering tasty after-school snacks are on the mind of the good people at Kraft Foods and they have some fantastic, not to mention delicious, [...]
The first week of back-to-school can be a HUGE adjustment for families transitioning from summer to more busy and rigid schedules. Options for simplifying dinner, packing quick and easy lunches and offering tasty after-school snacks are on the mind of the good people at Kraft Foods and they have some fantastic, not to mention delicious, ideas for helping you navigate that familiar “first week back”. They know that saving time in the kitchen means you’ll have more time for family, and homework and laundry and…. maybe, a bubble bath! lol You get the idea. Kraft understands that busy families sometimes just need a little help pushing through that first week and some of the other hectic, activity-filled weeks that will inevitably follow.
Fabulous products from Kraft to help you get through your "First Week Back". One Busy-at-Home reader will win this great prize pack with a nearly $100 value!
Some of the Kraft products we tested out for OUR “first week back” are:
- CAPRI SUN Super V Juice – Fruit Punch: CAPRI SUN Super V is a new refreshing fruit & vegetable juice drink that kids will enjoy and moms will feel good about serving. The new ready-to-drink beverage, which comes in the popular CAPRI SUN pouch, contains a combined serving of fruits and vegetables (3/4 from fruit juice and 1/4 from vegetable juice) and is a good source of fiber, offering a perfect blend of nutrition, great taste and “kid cool.” The kids slurped these down with great gusto! Vegetable juice never entered the conversation. They just liked the way they tasted – plain and simple. It’s hard to argue with great taste, even if Grandma does say it’s good for you. :)
- LUNCHABLES with Smoothie: The new Turkey and Cheddar Sub Sandwich with Chiquita® Strawberry Banana Smoothie and Double Stuf OREOS is the perfect first-day lunch time option and combines all of your kids’ favorites! You can also try the new Chicken Strips and Deep Dish Pizza options to add some variety to lunchtime! Plus, look out for more exciting Lunchables news coming your way, next month, directly from the Lunchables team
When my older kids were little, Lunchables were the ultimate treat. Now, my grandkids feel the same way and I love what a treat something so fast and simple for me, can be to them. We tried the variety that let the kids build their own mini sub sandwiches with turkey, cheese and condiments. They also included fruit smoothies and Oreo cookies. What kid wouldn’t love that?
Enjoy a Turkey and Cheddar Sub with a Fruit Smoothie and Oreos. I got A whold bucket of "Grandma points" for this one.
- JELL-O with Mix-Ins Pudding Packs: Feed your family an evening snack, without the guilt, with new JELL-O with Mix-Ins. These pudding snacks featuring tasty toppings and creamy pudding that, when mixed, create some of your favorite dessert flavors. Flavors include: Strawberry Shortcake, OREO Dirt Cup, Birthday Cake, German Chocolate Cake, Turtle Sundae and Banana Caramel Pie. JELL-O with Mix-Ins are 160 calories or less and are made with real milk, are a good source of calcium, and contain no artificial sweeteners. Our local Walmart didn’t have these fun treats in stock, yet, but we are definitely anxious to give them a try. I’m not gonna lie. That Turtle Sundae is definitely calling my name!
- CHIPS AHOY!: Whether it’s packed as a surprise lunchbox treat or with some milk after school—you won’t be able to resist Chewy Gooey Caramel CHIPS AHOY! and Chewy CHIPS AHOY! with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. One, infused with a soft caramel inside, the other, a chewy treat packed with Reese’s Peanut Butter cup pieces. It was a dead tie, at our house, as to which of these Chips Ahoy! varieties was the favorite. Well, here’s the skinny on these cookies. Most of us would probably not classify these as a healthy snack. I know. I know. – lol – But, oh baby are they good and what a fun treat, once in a while. When you want something extra special as a treat, your kids will thank you for choosing these deliciously soft and chewy cookies. We all liked both varieties, but never could come to a full-fledged agreement as to which should be ranked #1. :) Personally, I think these cookies are not just a treat for kids and could become a mom’s best-kept secret. I can’t divulge any detailed information, but there may or may not be a private stash somewhere in OUR home.
- New! VELVEETA CHEESY SKILLETS Dinner Kits in Creamy Beef Stroganoff and Lasagna: Craft your family a quick, easy, molten and melty dinner made with the liquid gold of VELVEETA. Wield your skillet and one pound of ground beef to forge a feast of new Creamy Beef Stroganoff, with premium seasonings, curly ribbon pasta, and creamy VELVEETA cheese sauce. Or, forge VELVEETA CHEESY SKILLETS Lasagna by smiting together one pound of ground beef, lasagna noodles, red sauce and premium seasonings together with the liquid gold of VELVEETA. Our family absolutely LOVED these!!! I am not a big “helpers”-type boxed dinner kind of cook, but the flavor of these new Velveeta Cheesy Skillets is really good. Both varieties were hits with the family and I have no doubt that I will be buying them, again, when I’m in a pinch for time and need to get a tasty dinner on the table.
Putting together Velveeta Cheesy Dinners is SOOOOO simple. I browned and drained some ground beef.
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The whole dish is mixed up in one skillet - fast, simple and fewer dishes. Sweet!
Our family loved this Velveeta Cheesy Skillet Stroganoff! With the addition of some fresh fruit and veggies from the garden, it was a super simple and quick to prepare meal.
- sweat-free ice pack from Kids Konserve
- germ-x hand sanitizer
- colorful twirly straws
- meal planner pad
- calendar stickers
- backpack
- memo pad
I have really appreciated having some quick go-to options available, when life is hectic and I need some simple ideas for lunches, dinner or snacks. Be sure to check out all these tasty products from Kraft Foods and enjoy a little less “hectic” in your busy days.
There are just TWO Steps for entering the GIVEAWAY:
- Which of the Kraft Foods products, listed above, would your hungry family most enjoy trying? Leave a comment on this blog post to tell me which one.
- Use the Rafflecopter form below, to submit your entry and to open the additional optional entries.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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I received the Kraft Fresh Takes prize pack, pictured above, in order to test the products in my own kitchen and collect data for this review. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product. While Busy-at-Home administers the giveaway and randomly selects the winner, the prize is provided and shipped by Kraft Foods.
End of summer is a crazy time. We’re still finishing up those last fun, warm weather activities and trying to squeeze every drop of freedom and fun out of the last days of warmer weather. As we do that, though, the schedules, time crunches and added responsibilities of everything that goes with fall and back-to-school [...]
End of summer is a crazy time. We’re still finishing up those last fun, warm weather activities and trying to squeeze every drop of freedom and fun out of the last days of warmer weather. As we do that, though, the schedules, time crunches and added responsibilities of everything that goes with fall and back-to-school gets tossed into the mix and we can get overwhelmed. By the end of the day, I’m tired and if I don’t have a plan or an option for something “quick”, it won’t be long before I have succumbed to the urge to “just order in” or hit a drive-thru. This is a bad habit to fall into, for our health and for the health of our grocery budgets. There is no way around the fact that, cooking at home, we will spend a fraction of the money it takes to eat out. The trade-off is in time and sometimes, you and I both let that get the best of us. You’ll love the solution I’ve found for those occasional harried evenings. Of course it would be from a brand I know and trust – Kraft.
All you need for DELICIOUS bacon cheddar cheese burgers!
Kraft Fresh Takes include packets of cheese and/or bread crumbs, spices and seasonings. Everything you need to prepare a delicious meat dish, in one handy package! This is the contents of my Bacon Cheddar.
Kraft Fresh Takes are a brand new way to “spice up” a quick meal at home and serve food your family will love, for a lot less than a “drive-thru dinner. I got to test them, this past week and I really loved the bacon cheddar variety! You know, I mixed it up a little though, since these tasty products were designed for breading/coating chicken, fish or pork chops. Something about seeing the words bacon and cheddar made me think BURGERS! I had a 2 1/4 lb package of ground chuck and I simply mixed in the contents of both the cheese and crumb packets from two Bacon Cheddar Fresh Take packages. Then I grilled them up, along with some fresh sweet corn and we had one of the most delicious and easy suppers I’ve prepped in a long time!
Who wouldn't love this delicious dinner? And it's so simple and fast to prepare!
It was a quick weeknight supper that had the whole family raving and I am anxious to try some of the other varieties, soon (I have a 4 Cheese package in my fridge as we speak. :) ) And as a hint, I have another idea for “thinking outside the box” with these, because I think some of them would be fantastic in quick weeknight casseroles – blending in the cheeses and then topping with the flavorful bread crumbs, for a flavorful, crunchy topping. That means that Kraft Fresh Takes have a ton of versatility, offer some tasty alternatives to the same old, same old and can help you make a “quick supper” a powerhouse of flavor and texture. They are available in six great flavors: Italian Parmesan, Chili Lime and Panko, Rosemary and Roasted Garlic, Cheddar and Bacon, Southwest Three Cheese, and Savory Four Cheese.
Ready to head to the grill with everything prepped and together in my handy-dandy Quirky Porter BBQ Prep & Serve Tray! I absolutely love it!
Don't those look fabulous?!!! It was such a tasty, simple dinner and quick and easy to prepare. It's easy to make something amazing, with Kraft Fresh Takes, for a weeknight supper!
One lucky Busy-at-Home reader is going to win a prize pack from Kraft that includes coupons for FREE Kraft Fresh Takes, a Quirky Porter BBQ Prep & Serve Tray (my new favorite grilling tool), and a Fox Run Mesh Food Cover!
The Kraft "Make Something Amazing" Prize Pack that one of you will win! (The Fresh Takes will come in the form of a coupon for FREE product, so you can select your favorite variety!) and you'll also receive a Quirky Porter BBQ Prep & Serve Tray and a Fox Run Mesh Food Cover.
GIVEAWAY:
- You must be a resident of the U.S. and at least 18 to enter.
- Mandatory entry MUST be completed before any other optional entries will be accepted.
- Winner will be chosen in a random drawing from all eligible entries.
MANDATORY ENTRY: Go to the Kraft website and check out the recipe ideas for all the great new Fresh Takes flavors. In a comment on this blog post, tell me which recipe you would love to try and the Fresh Takes variety it calls for. Or if you have an idea of your own, choose one variety and tell me how you would use it. Click the DO IT and then Enter button in the Rafflecopter Form, below, and you are entered. You will unlock all the optional entries at that time and you can add as many of them as you would like, to increase your odds of winning. Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received the Kraft Fresh Takes prize pack, pictured above, in order to test the products in my own kitchen and collect data for this review. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product. While Busy-at-Home administers the giveaway and randomly selects the winner, the prize is provided and shipped by Kraft Foods.
The timing couldn’t be better for my review of the Fellowes Saturn2 95 Laminator. We kicked off the new homeschool year, this week, and I’ve already put the easy-to-use laminator to good use. Previously, laminating a sheet for lessons meant that I had to wrestle long, unwieldy sheets of clear contact paper, hope to apply it without [...]
The timing couldn’t be better for my review of the Fellowes Saturn2 95 Laminator. We kicked off the new homeschool year, this week, and I’ve already put the easy-to-use laminator to good use. Previously, laminating a sheet for lessons meant that I had to wrestle long, unwieldy sheets of clear contact paper, hope to apply it without bubbles or wrinkles and then flip the project, hoping to do the same thing to the back side. Needless to say, the results were often less than professional and sometimes required starting the project over.
My new Fellowes Saturn2 95 Laminator - Absolutely LOVE how it's speeding up my back-to-school tasks!
Numerous times throughout our school year, I will print sheets or cards that will be used multiple times in the course of a project or unit. Rather than having to reprint them each time I need one or because they were damaged in some way, I prefer to increase their durability and usefulness by laminating them. This is great for things like maps, preposition lists, spelling rules, flash cards, times table sheets, paragraph writing examples, schedules, etc. Another cool thing about laminated sheets is that you can use dry erase markers on them. This is the perfect solution for handwriting practice! The same sheets can be used over and over, again, to master letter formations.
It's easy to use the laminating sheets. They are sealed at one end and open on the other three sides.
Peel it back and arrange your product, smoothing it back into place over your project by starting from the sealed end. You will load the project into your laminator, sealed end first.
By selecting the correct laminating sheet thickness, and depressing that button, the laminator will begin heating up. The LED light blinks until the heat-up is complete. Then the machine beeps and the light stops blinking. It's ready to load.
It was no surprise as we got busy with our first day of work, that I already had a sheet that needed some reinforcement. The program I use for grammar starts the year by having the kids memorize a list of prepositions. Once they’ve mastered the list, it’s easy to break down the structure of a sentence, eliminating the prepositions and their phrases to find the core grammatical elements of that sentence. The trick, though, is mastering that list of prepositions. Rather than putting up a wall chart or having them flip back to the front of their book, each time they want to check and be sure, I simply print out the list, one time, and laminate it. They keep the list with their school books and we get a full year of use from that one sheet.
I inserted the laminating sheet into the appliance, sealed-side first, and it began to auto-feed through.
It was the perfect test for the Fellowes Saturn2 95 Laminator. The unit required no special setup. It was as simple as removing it from the box and plugging it in. I can heat laminate using either a 3 mil thickness or 5 mil thickness laminating sheet, meaning I have choices about how stiff I want the finished project to be. Also, the laminator can take projects up to 9 1/2″ wide and has Heat Guard Technology, which allows all the heat to be contained inside the walls of the well-insulated laminator. I love that it is safe to use and have around even with the grandkids in the house. I don’t have to worry about curious fingers being burned.
In only a matter of seconds, the sheet was ejected from the back of the laminator, perfectly sealed much more sturdy than when I had fed it through. Perfect!
Another great feature is the Release Lever, that allows me to make last-minute adjustments or to straighten a project that wasn’t loaded properly and so caused a jam. The controls are simple. Use the power button to turn the machine on. Wait for it to heat, which is indicated by a blinking green LED light and then, and when the light stops blinking, the unit beeps, and you are ready to laminate. Simply select the thickness of the laminating sheets you will be using and then load the sealed side of the project into the appliance. Your laminated item will eject from the back of the unit, fully sealed and protected.
Beautifully laminated, protected and ready for a year of use in our homeschool grammar class.
Laminating using the Fellowes Saturn2 95 Laminator was so fast and easy, I NEVER want to go back to messing with contact paper! I’m hooked and I can think of dozens of new ways to use it. Crafts, dry-erase calendar sheets, flash cards, dry-erase grocery lists, chore charts, preserving artwork, report covers and so much more. I’m on a laminating “roll” and thanks to Fellowes, Busy-at-Home readers can be, too! You’ll SAVE $30 when you start preserving and protecting your own projects with the Fellowes Saturn2 95 Laminator. From now through August 25th, use the PROMO CODE: 87298, at staples.com, to receive $30 off your online purchase!
A cleaning sheet was included in the package of laminating pockets. After a heated lamination, the sheet is run through to make sure no glue residue or other debris is left on the rollers.
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I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Fellowes and received a product sample to facilitate my review. No monetary compensation was received. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product.
This last post for our Sears Grilling Photography Class at SFU is supposed to repost our ten favorite shots from the course. It’s hard for me, because I can see that I have actually learned a LOT from the lighting, perspective and angles lessons we have covered. On the other hand, I still see so [...]
This last post for our Sears Grilling Photography Class at SFU is supposed to repost our ten favorite shots from the course. It’s hard for me, because I can see that I have actually learned a LOT from the lighting, perspective and angles lessons we have covered. On the other hand, I still see so much room for improvement. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience to have this opportunity and gain some new tools and information that can help to improve my blog, long into the future.
I wanted to include this picture from the very first lesson. I was astounded at the difference it made when I learned how to use the levels and unsharp mask tools at pixlr.com. It was very encouraging to see that I could make progress, even from the very first lesson.
Our second lesson focused on path to purchase photo shoots and the way that we can take shots that are beneficial to our clients, in helping them discover how and why we shop, what inspires us to make a purchase and what we’re looking at, in the process. It’s helpful to have shots of signage and shelves where product is displayed. It’s also a good idea to get up close and personal, taking some good detail shots and showing features or products that really caught your eye. Also, showing how and where a product is displayed in the store let’s brands understand how retailers are marketing their products.
Lesson three focused on shooting a product in a natural setting, using natural light to our advantage and learning how to keep harsh shadows and highlights from overpowering the products details. I learned some fantastic things about perspective, lighting and angles.
This was the grill I brought home from Sears for our SFU Sears Grilling class. It's a Kenmore, 4-burner with an additional side burner and I LOVE it! The side shelves for storage were a key feature for me. This is after assembly and making it at home on the deck. Parts of this photo were darker than I liked, but I manged to edit it with pixlr.com and really did enjoy the "staging" on this one.
Aaaahhhh...the knobs. We won't go there. We've just accepted I have a problem. lol There is something about the isolation of the knobs, the angle and the focus sharpening and then diminishing as you move away, that I like about this shot. It's weird. I accept that.
This was from Lesson 4 and shooting REAL food! Same deal here. I like the angle, the tightening and then diminishing focus. Plus, those chops look so juicy, I sort of want one, now. Yum!
This beans shot is also from Lesson 4. I liked the tilted angle that invites you right into the pot. Plus, the contrast of colors by leaving the ingredients separate in the pan, made a much cooler shot, than after they were stirred up. Plus, now you can see everything that's in them!
This shot from above is also Lesson 4. I haven't used this angle very often, but almost always like the results when I do, so I need to remember to use it occasionally. It starts above the front of the subject and then, the camera is tilted up until the entire subject is in the frame. See how it sort of draws your eye up from the bottom of the picture to the top? It's called From Above with Perspective.
That was some juicy, delicious chicken!!! Getting tools in the shot makes the picture more interactive. Close-ups also give great detail and draw a viewer in.
Grilled peaches! Delish!
Lesson 5 was all about plating, food styling and making the viewer hungry! I loved this shot with our grilled chicken dinner and baked potatoes.
A year ago, if you had told me I would be taking pictures of piles of raw meat, I probably wouldn't have believed you. Lesson 6 really helped us fine-tune plating, lighting and angles in photographing party situations, from prep to finish. I actually really liked the lighting and detail on this plate of raw ribeyes. I ended up having two "parties" and staging pictures.
I never did get the focus quite right on this picture, but I still liked the color and symmetry of it.
I love how you can literally SEE how juicy and delicious these burgers were. I also like the contrast of colors and the being up close and personal with that yummy grilled sweet corn.
I know now, that I should have melted some cheese on that burger and dripped a little of the sauce or ketchup down the side to make it really inviting. There are so many things I've learned that I would do differently, but I DO like the diffused window lighting on this shot and how the white background really makes the food POP.
I've eaten more s'mores since taking this picture, than I have the entire rest of my life! I think I'm "going through a phase". I liked the lighting. I liked that you could see the melty, gooeyness of it. And let's be honest -- I liked the chocolate!
I’m so excited to have been able to take this class and so grateful to Sears and Social Fabric for all they have provided to make it happen. Most of all, I’m grateful to Stewart, our brave instructor. It’s not every guy who can organize and instruct a group of 20 women, who all have ideas, questions, different equipment and different goals. He’s been awesome!
So, next time I’m going to sign up for an SFU Math class, since there are clearly fourteen pictures on this page, rather than ten. I don’t know which one to leave out and which to keep in. I decided to leave them all, because I don’t feel that any of them were stellar, but they are a composite of ideas that I want to continue practicing to perfect in my future photographs. They also show a sort of progression and help me to see where I was and where I’ve come to. It will be fun to look back and compare again, a year from now!
I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Sears #CBias #GrillingIsHappiness. All photos and opinions are my own.
You still have time, this summer, to digitize your favorite memories for FREE when you purchase specially marked 28-packs of Coke and use the code inside the wrapper to get 28 free digital prints at Walmart! I told you all about the Summer to Remember campaign with Coca-Cola and Walmart in a previous post and shared [...]
You still have time, this summer, to digitize your favorite memories for FREE when you purchase specially marked 28-packs of Coke and use the code inside the wrapper to get 28 free digital prints at Walmart! I told you all about the Summer to Remember campaign with Coca-Cola and Walmart in a previous post and shared a few of my own summer memories. It’s been a fast-paced summer, full of firsts for me and the opportunity to save and share some of those great memories for free is pretty exciting. Plus, getting a 28-pack of my favorite soft drink for the price of 24, in the bargain, is just too great to pass up! That’s what they’re charging at my local Walmart!
Here are the details for you to take advantage of this great Free Digital Prints offer:
- Walmart is the only place you can purchase an exclusive Coca-Cola summer-themed 28-pack
- Redeem your 28 free 4×6 photo prints with a code from the pack
- Visit MCR.com/Walmart for even more exclusive offers
- Enter the code “WALMART” into MCR.com/walmart to receive additional free prints
- Free prints from Walmart available online through 9/30/12. All keywords expire 9/30/12
Some of my favorite things from Summer 2012 : (1) NOLA Mission Trip, (2) My first trip to New York, (3) enjoying ice cold Coca Cola, (4) Family Staycation (5) more Family Staycation and (6) the first tomato harvest from our backyard vegetable garden."
$100 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway!
One lucky Busy-at-Home reader will win a $100 Walmart Gift Card! Entering the drawing is simple.
Mandatory Entry – Follow these steps. (All optional entries will be disregarded if an Instagram photo link is not submitted.)
- Upload a picture of one of your favorite summertime memories to Instagram and tag it with the hashtag #SummertoRemember (I have a list of summer theme suggestions, below, to help you get creative.)
- Locate the link to your uploaded picture (Use a program like Followgram, to click on your picture and copy the link.) You can see my #SummertoRemember album here.
- Use the Rafflecopter Form below to submit the link to your picture and then open the additional optional entries.
It’s that simple! Good Luck!
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Possible Summer Themes for your Photo:
- Picture of your favorite local Walmart greeter
- The Outside of your local Walmart
- Coke display at Walmart
- Family gathering with Coke
- Favorite location enjoying Coke
- Fireworks display
- Favorite summer activity
- Summer happiness moment
- Favorite summer food
- Coke Float
- Summer grilling food
- Coke memorabilia (an old Coke sign, A Coke glass)
- Swim suit
- Summer vacation
- Summer reading
- Coke fountain
- Walmart Colors (Blue and Yellow)
- Sandcastles
- Beach purchase
- Picnic
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RULES FOR YOUR PHOTO SUBMISSIONS
- No Competitive brands
- No Direct brand names (can be hot dogs, but not Oscar Mayer hot dogs)
- No Trademarked items that are not Coca-Cola or Walmart
- No Alcoholic beverages
- No Unsafe environments
- No use of Coca-Cola that is not for drinking/cooking
- No Close-up shots of children/people that do not have a direct relation to the person uploading the picture
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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This post has been compensated as part of the #SummertoRemember campaign for CocaCola. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product. While Busy-at-Home is solely responsible to administer the giveaway and randomly select the winner, the prize is provided, and shipped, by CocaCola.
I love New York Style Bagel Crisps! I buy the Sea Salt variety in the jumbo giant bag at Sam’s Club and I’m not gonna lie. I hide them. I’m stingy like that. Actually, I’m not a big chip eater, and I don’t get cravings for cupcakes or cookies, but I do have a weakness [...]
I love New York Style Bagel Crisps! I buy the Sea Salt variety in the jumbo giant bag at Sam’s Club and I’m not gonna lie. I hide them. I’m stingy like that. Actually, I’m not a big chip eater, and I don’t get cravings for cupcakes or cookies, but I do have a weakness for whole grain, really hearty crackers or dense, chewy, crusty bread with some smoked Gouda cheese. Add to that list New York Style Sea Salt Bagel Crisps. I love the crunch, the texture, and the satisfying, salty taste. I also love that they hold up to all kinds of toppings — the aforementioned Gouda is my favorite, but a fresh tomato bruschetta-style topping is a close second. I have even topped with the bruschetta and a thin slice of smoked Gouda and then popped them under the broiler to let the cheese melt. DIVINE! But, I digress. Let’s just leave it at ” I don’t share my Bagel Crisps.”
Two new varieties of New York Style Bagel Crisps. They're mine -- all mine!
It wasn’t much of a stretch for me, then, to accept the opportunity to review the Original New York Style Bagel Crisps along with their mini version. When the package arrived, I was delighted to have the opportunity to try two previously unfamiliar flavors — Roasted Garlic and BBQ. I was really enjoying myself, with my private stash of snacks when I was found out by three of my most favorite people on the planet — my grandkids! Now, MOM might not share, but GRANDMA, she’s always a sucker for a cute grin and puppy eyes. And these kiddos did NOT need Gouda cheese. Both bags ended up on the floor passed between them and disappeared in a matter of seconds. Are New York Style Bagel Crisps loved by young and old, alike. I can tell you with great sincerity, “Yes, they certainly are!”
Eating and munching and gobbling and enjoying -- the kids loved New York Style Bagel Crisps as much as Grandma!
We have to get EVERY last crumb from the bottom of the bag!
If you’ve never tried New York Style Bagel Crisps, there’s no better time to begin your obsession. :) Whether they’re just for snacking, or the base of a delicious appetizer for parties, you won’t be disappointed with these yummy, high-quality snacks.
Mmm..hhmmm...these are definitely a hit!
Polishing off the last remnants of a delicious snack!
Following New York Style Bagel Crisps on Facebook is going to keep you up to date on all the latest info about their Bagel Snack Star Sweepstakes, which gives fans a chance to win a red carpet movie experience with their friends and family! There is a Grand Prize in which one winner will have the chance to win a private VIP photographed and catered experience at their local movie theater. New York Style will rent out the theater for you to host the ultimate experience with 50 friends. The winner will also receive a gift card for a year supply ($500 worth) of movie tickets. For complete details, and to enter, be sure to like New York Style on Facebook. Follow them on Twitter to hear about the latest promotions and deals!
I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of New York Style and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product.
So, we’ve nearly reached the end of class and week six has been all about using the things we’ve learned about lighting, staging, and perspective to get the best shots we can of prepping and plating the food for a grill party! No one loves a party more than me, but I have discovered over [...]
So, we’ve nearly reached the end of class and week six has been all about using the things we’ve learned about lighting, staging, and perspective to get the best shots we can of prepping and plating the food for a grill party! No one loves a party more than me, but I have discovered over the years that our definition of party is probably different than most people’s. At our house, it there are at least two people who love and care about each other, who can make each other laugh and who LOVE food — it’s a party! And they are usually very spontaneous, unplanned events, that grow out of a surprise visit from friends or a sudden urge to cook a feast and watch movies until tomorrow. :) While there is rarely a time when there are only two people in our bustling household, it does happen on occasion and so the strangest thing happened to me on Saturday — I had TWO grill parties. Never let it be said we do things in a small way around here. :)
The most difficult thing about having parties for a photography class is remembering to pause and take pictures in the middle of the fun. lol The class IS Sears Grilling Food Photography – so I needed to be focused on food photography and specifically grilling food. Fortunately, I was swift enough to remember to snap pictures of the yummy fare once in awhile and that’s what I’ll be sharing with you, today.
A mountain of ribeye deliciousness ready for a crowd that thinned to two.
My Saturday was sort of strange, in that I expected our whole family to be here and I had planned a special grilled feast at lunch time. I got a fabulous deal on ribeye steaks at our local grocer’s and I was so excited to surprise everyone. By 9:45 Saturday morning, however, our normally filled-with-chatter, busy home was silent. deafeningly. without. sound. QUIET! All the kids had made other plans and taken off to their various activities, having no idea they were about to miss the grilling feast of their lives. Oh well! Just me and hubs for the rest of the day. This became a WHOLE different kind of party. But, we still grilled ribeyes and oh baby, were they delish! David still calls Saturday the day of grilling heaven! The funny thing is that until I started this photography class, he was the master griller in the house. I didn’t mess with the grill. Now, his high praises make me feel like I really HAVE acquired a new and valuable skill at the same time that I’ve been working to improve my photography. Very cool!
I used hickory wood chips in the smoker and Spike Tenderizer seasoning to cook the steaks. High heat, seared on both sides to lock in the juices, and cooked to perfect, juicy melt-in-your mouth perfection. I also quartered baked potatoes, from the day before, brushed them with melted butter and grilled up the most delicious steak fries you will ever eat!
Juicy, tender, rib-eye heaven!
I had also made a quick marinated veggie salad and, in the summer, especially when you're grilling, the meal is NOT complete without fresh, sliced tomatoes! Yum!
Supper fixin's ready to go to the grill. I love this grilling carry-all with individual containers and a wire tray!
Sweet Corn and Caprese Bites on the Grill
Our grilled supper spread -- bacon cheddar burgers, grilled sweet corn and caprese bites.
I love the way our new Sears Kenmore grill cooks meat! It's so juicy and flavorful when it's done. And I had never grilled sweet corn before, but now my family insists that's the way we always need to do it. So good!
Cheddar bacon burgers, grilled sweet corn and caprese bites. I'm hungry just posting the picture!
By supper time, one child had wandered home with a friend in tow. Two were still out doing their “social butterfly” thing, but we finished off our day with grilled burgers and sweet corn for the four of us, here, and the pièce de résistance — s’mores! Since the kids that were here were 10 and 7, that definitely defined THIS party. Nothing beats a flaming marshmallow on a stick, right? None of the bike riding, trampoline jumping, doing their nails fun came even close to eating s’mores. It was a great night AND the older kids got home later, feasted on all the yummy leftovers and made plans to be home, NEXT weekend! :)
Prepped and ready for ooey, gooey, chocolatey s'more heaven!
Soon to be a flaming orb of molten sugar!
Building dessert!
Great way to cap off a day of grilling!
Hope you enjoy the pictures!
I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Sears #CBias #GrillingIsHappiness. All photos and opinions are my own.
It’s that time of year, again, and it promises to be just as hectic as all the years before it. :) Back-to-school signals so many things, cooler weather, more structured and scheduled days and more activity to squeeze into that structure. Finding the time to shop and prep for the kids moving back into their [...]
It’s that time of year, again, and it promises to be just as hectic as all the years before it. :) Back-to-school signals so many things, cooler weather, more structured and scheduled days and more activity to squeeze into that structure. Finding the time to shop and prep for the kids moving back into their academic activities can leave us with our heads spinning, finding it hard to believe all that they will need to complete their assigned tasks. One name that I KNOW I can count on, without even having to think about it, for back-to-school is Crayola. A new box of 64 with a sharpener built into the back was the pinnacle of my school bag treasures, back in the day; and Crayola is still the name I trust when I shop for supplies that will help my kids and grandkids pursue their creative talents.
Polly-O/ Kraft String Cheese comes in several delicious varieties. I bought Mozzarella and Twists. You can see that my package of Twists had the $3 Crayola coupon inside!
I love that Kraft and Crayola know exactly what busy moms like us are feeling, thinking about and experiencing as fall and a new school year approaches; and I think it’s particularly cool that they have teamed up this summer to make it a little easier for us to fill up the book bags and satisfy the after-school munchies. From now through September 30th, specially marked packages of Polly-O/ Kraft String Cheese will contain $3.00 coupons off Crayola products. It’s a perfect time to stock up on your family’s favorite string cheese varieties. Regular Mozzarella, Mozzarella made with 2% milk, Twist, and Twist made with 2% milk are the varieties participating in the coupon campaign, but I’ve noticed a couple of new flavors of Kraft String Cheese, at our market, that I want to try, too. Those are Jalapeno and Tomato Basil. Yum! Any of the flavors would be a delicious part of an after school snack or a quick and easy treat in a lunchbox! Check out this fun recipe page with ideas to really get creative with Kraft String Cheese. Here’s another recipe that I dreamed up and works as a quick, cold snack for the kids; or broiled, becomes an elegant and delicious appetizer.
Delicious Caprese Bites made with Kraft Mozzarella String Cheese.
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Ingredients
- 12-15 large cherry or flavorino tomatoes
- 3 Kraft Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
- 12-15 fresh basil leaves
- optional: few drops balsamic vinegar or salad dressing
- optional: 2 Tablespoons Italian Bread Crumbs
- optional: 1 teaspoon melted butter
Instructions
- Cut cheese sticks into 5 or 6 equal pieces.
- Wash tomatoes and slice the tip off the narrow end, leaving the wide, flat side to stand them on.
- Cut about 1/3 of the way down through the center of the tomato, turn it and cut 1/3 of the way down through the center, again, to create a cross.
- Wrap a basil leaf around a cheese chunk and push them into the center of the cross you cut in the top of a tomato.
- Repeat until each tomato has been stuffed.
- Chill and serve with your kids' favorite salad dressing, a drop of balsamic vinegar or just plain.
- Optional: I didn't get a good picture of these, but they were delicious. To serve hot, I mixed the bread crumbs and melted butter, then sprinkled some bread crumbs over the top of each tomato and heated under the broiler until the crumbs were golden brown and the cheese softened. The cheese chunks are too large to actually melt, but they began to get pretty soft on the top and heating melded the flavors, beautifully. Yum!
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http://busy-at-home.com/blog/back-to-school-with-kraft-and-crayola-a-review-and-give-away-plus-delicious-caprese-bites-kraftstringcheeseb2s/Everyone will have the chance to save on Crayola school supplies when they purchase the specially marked Kraft String Cheese products, but one lucky Busy-at-Home reader will also win a fabulous Back-to-School Gift Pack from Kraft Foods, filled with Crayola products and coupons for FREE Kraft String Cheese. My ten-year-old daughter has been in artsy tween heaven, since our package arrived! :) The prize pack contains:
These are the great products included in the giveaway prize!
- Two POLLY-O/KRAFT String Cheese Gratuity Coupons
- A Lunch Box to pack favorite lunches in
- Dry-Erase Bright Crayons
- Dry-Erase Washable Markers
- Dry-Erase Board Set
- Twistable Colored Pencils
- Wild Notes 1 subject
- Wild Notes Journal
- Wild Notes Refill Paper
To enter, leave a comment below telling me the name of your favorite Kraft product or a fun Crayola memory. Do you love to color with your grandkids? Did you get a new “big” box every year, for school? Does the smell of a new box of crayons take you on a trip down memory lane? Share your story. I know you have one! Then, just use the Rafflecopter form to complete your entry. Good Luck!
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received the Kraft Foods String Cheese and Crayola products, pictured above, in order to test them in my own home and collect data for this review. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product. While Busy-at-Home administers the giveaway and randomly selects the winner, the prize is provided by Kraft Foods.
Fun days at the pool, on the beach, walking, bicycling, working in the garden or the yard — however you spend your summer days; hot dry, air can take a toll on your skin. Nothing is worse than dry, chapped lips and Carmex is a simple affordable solution that you never have to be without. [...]
Fun days at the pool, on the beach, walking, bicycling, working in the garden or the yard — however you spend your summer days; hot dry, air can take a toll on your skin. Nothing is worse than dry, chapped lips and Carmex is a simple affordable solution that you never have to be without. They tuck easily into a pocket or purse. I think every member of our family carries a stick with them and you’ll find one in every medicine cabinet in the house. It’s so portable and inexpensive and the instant you glide it over your lips, you can feel that familiar sensation and know it’s working, to soften, soothe and heal.
An assortment of Carmex sticks, including the new pomegranate flavor. One lucky reader will get to try them all!
With back-to-school and fall, just around the corner, your kids will want to have one in their school bags, too. Whether it’s after a work-out at gym class, playing on the playground or biting their lip as they concentrate on a history exam, our kids go through a lot in a day where the soothing help of Carmex sticks will be welcome. They leave a clear, glossy shine without adding color, so they’re great over lipcolor, too. Stock up on your favorite flavors and be sure to check out the new Pomegranate flavor. The smell is fruity and delicious and it contains the same great moisturizers and sunscreens as all the others. You and the kids will have plenty to choose from with Original, Cherry, Strawberry, Lime Twist, Vanilla and Pomegranate.
This heavy-duty tote/beach bag is included in the giveaway prize, too! Love the removable zippered pocket!
One lucky Busy-at-Home reader will win a Carmex heavy-duty tote/beach bag and assortment of Carmex sticks! Leave a comment on this post, telling me which flavor you would love to try, then use the Rafflecopter form, below, to complete your entry into the giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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I received a Carmex bag and assortment of Carmex sticks in order to test the products and collect information for this review. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own.
How did I ever miss that August 10 is National S’mores Day?!!! I shudder to think of the marshmallow chocolatey graham goodness I’ve been missing by being so uninformed. No worries, though! We’ve marked it on the calendar and I promise to consume one or two extra to make up for previous years. :) You [...]
How did I ever miss that August 10 is National S’mores Day?!!! I shudder to think of the marshmallow chocolatey graham goodness I’ve been missing by being so uninformed. No worries, though! We’ve marked it on the calendar and I promise to consume one or two extra to make up for previous years. :) You probably should, too. Just sayin’…
The indoor "campgrounds" and s'more building central at BlogHer 2012, sponsored by Hershey's.
I got to meet with the great people from Hershey’s while I was at BlogHer, in New York, last week. I had a blast visiting their “Bondfire” Camp Out in a Suite on the 43rd floor of our hotel! Today, I received a fun basket of tasty ingredients to be sure we didn’t miss out on this sweet national holiday. It’s hard to beat going to the mailbox and finding a basket of Graham Crackers, Marshmallows and Hershey Bars. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it — right? That basket also included the coolest pair of adjustable length marshmallow toasting forks, that I have ever seen. Love it! Even better news? One Busy-at-Home reader will win their own handy dandy S’mores Kit, to kick off all their fall bonfire, marshmallow-toasting revelry in style!
The basket I received had marshmallows, Hershey bars, graham crackers and marshmallow roasting forks. A giveaway winner will receive the same great prize!
Whether you make them inside, under the broiler, or outside roasting the marshmallows over a flame, s’mores are a universal treat that transcends all generational barriers. Everybody loves the ooey, gooey, chocolatey yum smooshed between two graham crackers! It’s the perfect balance of taste and texture and s’mores are super simple to make.
Just fire up the grill, set a bonfire ablaze, or heat up your broiler while you assemble the short list of ingredients.
I rounded up the ingredients and headed for the grill. I'm loving those adjustable length marshmallow roasting forks!
There are no special tricks to roasting the perfect marshmallow. ”Perfect” is directly related to the preferences of the roaster. Some aren’t happy until their marshmallow is a flaming orb of molten sugar, gradually cooling to an ashy, burnt mass. I’m more of a golden brown and gooey kind of marshmallow roaster. If you insist on flaming orbs, though, it’s okay with me. It’s just yuck — that’s all. :)
The adjustable forks allowed me to get the marshmallow near the flame without toasting my hands!
Once your marshmallow is cooked to suit your particular fancy, place a square of Hershey chocolate on top of a graham cracker square. Then slide the toasted marshmallow onto the chocolate, so the heat from the marshmallow can begin to soften and melt the chocolate.
It’s only a matter of seconds after you put the second graham cracker square on top, that the heat of the marshmallow really begins to melt into the chocolate and meld the flavors. One bite of the sweet, crunchy sandwich will send the gooey chocolate and marshmallow oozing out the sides (and probably down your chin) and you will have achieved the perfect s’more. Enjoy!
Happy National S'mores Day!
Entering the giveaway is EASY. As the mandatory entry, leave a blog post comment telling me whether you like your Hershey Bars plain or with almonds, then hit the DO IT button in the Rafflecopter form below, and you’ll be entered, as well as opening up additional optional entries. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received a basket of s’mores making supplies from Hershey’s to test in my own kitchen and to use in the collection of info for this post. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own and based on my personal experience with the product. Giveaway prize will be shipped directly to the winner by Hershey’s.
