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Get the Family Movie Night/P&G widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info) Family movie night — do those words hold any significance for you? I remember when it was a tradition to gather around the one and only television we owned (Who on earth would have more [...]
Family movie night — do those words hold any significance for you? I remember when it was a tradition to gather around the one and only television we owned (Who on earth would have more than one?) with my parents and siblings, plus any company or random neighborhood kids that might have wandered in, for the Movie of the Week, which was broadcast on televisions across America. To be fair, that was CLEARLY back in prehistoric times and I realize you wouldn’t dream of parking your kids in front of most of the movies available on television, today, even if you’re sitting right beside them. That’s one of the saddest and most frustrating things about modern “entertainment”. We’ve removed the family element and a lot of the fun and memories that went along with it. I am so excited and grateful that Proctor and Gamble, along with WalMart, is investing time, money and talent to restore “family movie night” to living rooms across the country — to bring us entertaining stories, with interesting, contemporary plots and truly family-friendly language, content and character-building lessons! I ♥ them! I really do — for understanding how important it is for parents and kids to connect over wholesome, fun activities and build strong family ties.
Not only is Game of Your Life family-friendly, it was of particular interest to my gamer-enthusiast son! From the beginning he was willing to sit down and see what it was about, because the topic was something relevant to his life. Thank you to the talent behind the creation of this story for recognizing how critical that is in the process of engaging both kids and their parents! I loved that the story’s hero, Zach Taylor, was smart, worked hard and was willing to sacrifice for his goals. It was excellent to see him struggle with some real-life temptations and confusion, make a few mistakes and then seek the counsel and wisdom of adults he trusted and respected. The good guy is a REAL good guy, the bad guy is a REAL bad guy and the story has the most innocent romance, a crisis and lessons in loyalty, friendship and trust — all portrayed without the benefit of swearing, drinking, drugs, death or promiscuity. Imagine? I laughed — I cried — it moved me, Bob. No really, I ran the full gamut of emotions through this one and couldn’t be more pleased with the way everything worked out. I can’t wait to watch it again with my entire family, when it premieres on NBC, Friday, December 2 at 8/7c!
Be sure to check out more info on this excellent family-movie by visiting the Family Movie Night website or Facebook page!
I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of P&G and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own.
Most of you know by now that we moved a little over a month ago. Of course all the essentials have long been unpacked, but there are still boxes in my loft (and I mean dozens of boxes) filled with books. These include my cookbook collection. Yesterday afternoon, I cracked one open and was excited [...]
Most of you know by now that we moved a little over a month ago. Of course all the essentials have long been unpacked, but there are still boxes in my loft (and I mean dozens of boxes) filled with books. These include my cookbook collection. Yesterday afternoon, I cracked one open and was excited to see it was the one that had been housing all my favorite recipes. I pulled one out from my Sue Gregg collection and it immediately fell open to an oft-used page — Lentil Rice Casserole. I’m excited to share this with you because:
- I made it for supper last night and I want more , right now!
- It is a great frugal recipe for a hearty family meal.
- It is the perfect addition to a Christmas gift basket.
Let’s start with the recipe and then I’ll show you how to package this for a heart-warming and delicious gift.
Lentil Rice Casserole
Yield: 6 servings
- 1/2 c. brown rice
- 3/4 c. lentils, red or green, both work great
- 1 tsp. thyme
- 1 tsp. oregano
- 1 tsp. basil
- 1/4 c. dried onion flakes
- 3 chicken bouillon cubes
- 1 Tbl. Spike Seasoning , (This is the one change I make to the original recipe. I buy Spike locally, but you can order it online, as well. )
- 3 c. water
- 1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese, optional
- fat free sour cream, optional
- chopped tomatoes, optional
Mix lentils, rice, onion flakes, all seasonings and water in a 2 or 3 qt baking dish that has a lid. If your dish doesn’t have a lid, you will need foil to seal it tightly, when baking.
Bake in 300° oven for 2 hours or until lentils are tender and water is absorbed.
Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese and place back in oven for 5 minutes to allow cheese to melt.
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We serve this with fat-free sour cream and chopped tomatoes as toppings, but it is delicious plain, too. It also makes an excellent burrito filling.Serve this with steamed broccoli or a side salad and a wonderful, warm piece of crusty bread and it is a satisfying, comfort food meal. Yum!
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Using Lentils and Rice in a Christmas Gift Basket
I was so excited when I realized that all the dry ingredients for this delicious meal perfectly fill a one-pint canning jar. I mixed the beans, rice, seasonings (crush the bouillon) and onion flakes and then added them to my canning jar. Next, I cut a quick circle from a scrap of fabric and centered that over the top of the jar lid. Adding the screw band to the lid gathered the fabric just enough to make a pretty presentation. You could add a bow or a raffia tie and attach the tag. Now just make a gift tag that includes how to use your mix and the recipe, so they can make it on their own again, later.
Enjoy a budget-friendly and hearty meal with your family. Then surprise the people you love with this thoughtful meal- in-a-jar, as a part of a Christmas gift basket.
