The New Cup-For-Cup Stevia Extract In The Raw

Just in time for healthier New Year resolutions, I get to share with you the new Cup-For-Cup Stevia Extract In The Raw™ 100% natural, zero calorie sweetener — now available in a 9.7 oz Bakers’ Bag! The first nationally distributed Stevia sweetener available in a large, resealable bag, it’s perfectly suited for cooking and baking. The “cup for cup” formula measures just like sugar meeting the needs of consumers who have discovered the Stevia is as good an alternative to sugar in their cooking and baking as it is in their hot and cold beverages.

Just available on their Web site at steviaextractintheraw.com and in select retailers nationwide, the bakers bag is similar to the packet product, but is formulated so that it carries greater volume, allowing it to more easily be used as a substitute for sugar in cooking and baking recipes. Stevia Extract In The Raw’s 9.7-ounce bag has the same sweetening power as five pounds of sugar.

To learn more about Stevia Extract In The Raw products, and to find great new calorie-cutting recipes, or follow them at twitter.com/steviaintheraw.



Some quick pluses I noticed from their site are:
-In their Cup For Cup “Baker’s Bag” Product, each serving (1 teaspoon by volume — 0.5 grams by weight) of Stevia Extract In The Raw contains less than two calories, which the FDA considers dietetically zero calories per serving.
-safe for people with diabetes
-gluten free
-safe for people with celiac disease
-no animal byproducts
-certified kosher*

Please visit their FAQs, to learn more*: steviaintheraw.com/FAQs.aspx

Where can you get some? Search their Online Store Locator to find a source in your area, or simply buy it online.

Honestly we do not use any of those sugar substitutes and I am not found of their after taste, but I wanted to try this out. I have not yet tried this out in a recipe, but I did do a taste test! It was sweet, the texture is like air and there wasn't too much of an after taste. I will be going back to their site to get some recipes, because I would like to find healthier things to bake without all that sugar.

I wrote this review for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Stevia Extract In The Raw. Information was provided by them and the PR Rep. I received product to review and keep as compensation for my honest opinion of the product. All opinions for this review are that of myself & family.

General Mills Cereals‏ and MyBlogSpark

I'm excited to share some great news for cereal lovers. This week General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.


Other cereal benefits:
-Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.
-Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.
-More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.


Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.


For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.
Right now if you visit here you will find a $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals.



We were provided coupons for 4 free boxes of General Mills cereal to help our family come together at the breakfast table every morning and to eat a healtheir breakfast.
We eat a lot of cereal here (even as a snack), so I went big and got the huge 1 lb+ boxes of General Mills cereal. Plus they have Box Tops for the children's schools!

General Mills provided us with the free product, information through MyBlogSpark. Thanks!

My Pillsbury Creative Creations Gift Pack Winner is...

So the last giveaway winner from "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" of 2009 is...



#7 sphinx63!
Yay! You win the set of 3 platters and coupons for free crescent dough from Pillsbury!



Congrats and check your email and reply asap!

Have a safe & fun New Years everyone!

-CLOSED- Giveaway: Nestle Goodies and a Holiday Memories Photo Contest

How were your Holidays this year? Nestle would like to see it captured! Perhaps your photo could be the big winner! But first they would like to share their products with us.

Myself and one lucky reader of "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" will get free coupons from Toll House cookie dough, Carnation Evaporated Milk and Breakfast Essentials, Stouffer’s, Juicy Juice and Boost Kid Essentials, as well as products from Wonka and Rasinets. We’ll also be including a 4x6 silver photo frame and the Carnation holiday recipe guide. The prize value is around $40.



Additionally, there is a larger giveaway going on at nestlefamily.com It’s their Holiday Memories Photo Contest you can enter to win a $500 gift card as well as other prizes. There are five grand prize winners who will receive a $500 gift card and then 45 $50 gift cards for all 45 finalists.

January 4, 2010 is the last day to enter the Nestlé Family Holiday Memories Photo Contest. Be sure to share those wonderful memories you've captured on camera before it's too late. Click here to enter the Nestlé Family Holiday Memories Photo Contest.

ONE "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" reader will win free coupons from Nestle Toll House cookie dough, Carnation Evaporated Milk and Breakfast Essentials, Stouffer’s, Juicy Juice and Boost Kid Essentials, as well as products from Wonka and Rasinets. They'll also be including a 4x6 silver photo frame and the Carnation holiday recipe guide. The prize value is around $40.

(This is a must before any extra entries will be accepted!)
1. All you have to do is tell me your best memory of your 2009 Holiday!

Earn up to 5 extra entries by showing some "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" bloggie ♥ with these rules!
-Please post yourself a separate comment for each, letting me know which ones you do.

2. Follow me on Twitter here (I'll follow ya back if you tweet #3!)

3. Tweet about this giveaway once, using my new retweet button at top of post & post your link here

4. (earn 2 bonus entries!) Blog about this giveaway on your blog & post your link here

5. Mention this giveaway link on your Facebook & post your link here


Remember, please don't forget to leave me contact info!*


This Giveaway ends: 11:59 pm pst, Monday, January 4, 2010.
Please read the fine print:
-Open to USA
-If it's not already in your profile* please leave your email!
-I will verify links/names & delete if false to be fair
-Winner(s) will be notified by email & announced on my Blog & Twitter the following day
-I will choose my winner(s) using Random.org

As always, be sure to follow along so you don't miss new things!


I wrote this review for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Nestle products and their Memories Photo Contest. Nestle provided us with the free product, information, and giveaway. I received product to review and keep as compensation for my honest opinion of the product. All opinions for this review are that of myself & family.

enjoy,

Healthy Makeover Pumpkin Bread

Instead of a Birthday cake this year, I made myself this deliciousness. I saw it in a magazine while waiting for an appointment. Yes I even ripped it out of it, in case I couldn't find it online. haha. I love anything pumpkin and since we didn't even have pie on Thanksgiving I thought this would cure my craving. Plus it being "healthier" and a start to another year, why not! Well that bread must be magic, because I had a birthday and lost my sweet tooth since! I haven't baked as much lately and have not craved much of anything sweet. Sweet! Anyways this was REALLY good bread, it was really moist too. I added a streusel topping to it and had it with some whipped cream topping. This will be my #1 recipe for pumpkin bread.

Healthy Makeover Pumpkin Bread
-as seen at Good Housekeeping


1 cup (packed) light brown sugar
2 large egg whites
1 cup pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/4 cup canola oil
1/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 8 1/2" by 4 1/2" metal loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray with flour.
In large bowl, with wire whisk, combine brown sugar and egg whites. Add pumpkin, oil, yogurt, and vanilla extract; stir to combine.
In medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture; stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Invert pumpkin bread onto wire rack; cool completely.


Makes 1 loaf

enjoy,

Review: Pace Picante Salsas

Did you know the day after Thanksgiving has received the official designation it so richly deserves, National Leftovers Day! Pace has provided a group of recipes to help provide zest to any leftover turkey that might be haunting fridges in the days following Thanksgiving or Christmas since I am posting so late.

We were sent Pace Picante Sauces and Salsas and some recipes to try.

-Salsa Verde Chicken Wraps/Pace® Salsa Verde
-Monterey Chicken Tortilla Casserole/Pace® Picante Sauce
-Pace® Mucho Queso Pizza/Pace® Mexican Four Cheese Salsa con Queso

We all loved the wraps! Wow those sure are good, especially with the salsa as the sauce. I'm putting those on our menu more often. Talk about an easy dinner or lunch too! The casserole was great too, we used it as a dip with the chips. I wasn't so sure about adding creamed corn, but once it's all together it was as bad as I thought it'd be. I've posted the recipes we made, so they are perfect for leftover turkey or chicken. I hadn't gotten around to trying the pizza recipe, but it sounds pretty good too!

Salsa Verde Chicken Wraps
Prep: 15 minutes Makes: 4 servings

1 cup Pace® Salsa Verde
2 cups diced cooked chicken or turkey
1 large red pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
1 large avocado, diced (about 1 cup)
1 / 2 cup sour cream
4 flour tortillas (10-inch), warmed
2 cups shredded lettuce

1. Stir 1/2 cup salsa, chicken, pepper and avocado in a large bowl. Stir the remaining salsa and sour cream in a small bowl.
2. Spread 1 / 4 cup sour cream mixture onto each tortilla to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Top each with 1 cup chicken mixture and 1/2 cup lettuce. Fold the sides of the tortillas over the filling and then fold up the ends to enclose the filling. Cut each wrap in half before serving.

Monterey Chicken Tortilla Casserole
Prep: 15 minutes Bake: 40 minutes Makes: 4 servings (about 1 cup each)

1 cup coarsely crumbled tortilla chips
2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey
1 can (about 15 ounces) cream-style corn
3 / 4 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
1 / 2 cup sliced pitted ripe olives
2 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup)
Chopped green or red pepper
Tortilla chips

1. Layer the crumbled chips, chicken, corn and picante sauce in a 1-quart casserole. Top with the olives and cheese.
2. Bake at 350°F. for 40 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Top with the pepper. Serve with the chips.

Pace® Mucho Queso Pizza
Prep: 15 minutes Bake: 15 minutes Makes: 4 servings

1 cup Pace® Mexican Four Cheese Salsa con Queso
1 prepared pizza crust (10-inch)
1 / 2 cup shredded cooked chicken or turkey
1 / 2 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

1. Heat the oven to 400°F.
2. Spread the salsa con queso onto the pizza crust to within 1/2-inch of the edge. Top with the chicken, tomatoes, cheese and basil.
3. Bake for 15 minutes or until the salsa con queso is hot and bubbling.

click to see foods

We were also sent some of their mild and hot sauce as well as their black bean and roasted corn salsa. I thought it was great, it had a wonderful smoky flavor with whole black beans (which I thought could've been a little softer).

Pace also has persoanl reviews on their site, something to check out if you're interested in trying a new salsa of theirs!

Thank you Pace for providing us with free samples of salsa to review in these recipes! However, 2 of the jars (not used in these recipes) sent in the package had expiration dates of 11/6/09 and 11/12/09 which was just right after I got them and made these recipes. (Having worked in the food industry before I'm always looking at expiration dates) After having a mild case of food poisoning myself recently, I was cautious to eat these, and let them know about them. Well let me tell you! The folks with Pace are SO great that they sent over more salsa to replace those expired ones! Wow! Thanks!!

I wrote this review for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Pace Picante Salsas. I received product to review and keep as compensation for my honest opinion of the product. All opinions for this review are that of myself & family.

enjoy,

Review: Lindsay Olives

Lindsay Olives’ new reclosable packaging make olives easy to enjoy, simple to store. I just love that we can eat a few and put them back into the fridge!

Lindsay Olives now come in reclosable plastic 6.5 oz. tubs, an option to the traditional 6 oz. can, making olives more accessible for snacking or adding to recipes ‘olive the time.’ You just simply open the pull-top lid, spoon out some olives, then re-close with the plastic cap and store in the refrigerator. No need to transfer to another container. Once opened, the olives can be refrigerated, with or without brine, for up to 10 days. The reclosable container is recyclable and re-usable, and is available in Original black ripe olives and new Italian seasoned flavors.

We were sent these two flavors to review. The Italian seasoning gives olive lovers a delicious new choice for low calorie yet satisfying snacking. Natural oregano, basil and rosemary create the Italian flavor – a consumer favorite according to Lindsay research.

-I can see why! WOW! These are great! Next time I make homemade pizza, THESE are going on it! The flavors are perfect for a pizza! Big thumbs up there!

I put out the original olives on a relish tray for Christmas, and of course those were gone in seconds! I think everyone is an olive lover! In our home they are anyways. You know, stick one on each finger and eat away!

Lindsay Olives provides a full line of olives, ranging from the delicious, savory California black ripe olives to more exotic imported varieties like stuffed Spanish Queens and Greek Kalamatas. For wonderful recipes and serving suggestions, please visit their site for a money saving coupon also!

I wrote this review for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Lindsay Olives. I received product to review and keep as compensation for my honest opinion of the product. All opinions for this review are that of myself & family.

Review: Aunt Nellie’s Beets

Aunt Nellie’s premium jarred beets. You probably know someone who has a dislike of this root vegetable, but beets have flourished in popularity. I have always like them even when they were served to us out of the can, warmed up and put on our dinner plates. The juice running into the other foods and staining them. I don't eat them regularly now (infact I've never even served them to my family), but I do like them from the salad bar, with my salad.


Now that the growing season is coming to an end, beets are still available, and convenient. Aunt Nellie’s packs their beets at the peak of the season to ensure freshness.

We were sent a 16.00 oz. jar Sliced Pickled Beets and a 16.00 oz. jar Whole Pickled Beets. We first tried the whole beets, were were tiny bite size and perfect for popping into your mouth. Well it seems just my little girl and I are the ones who like them. So that meant more for us! They tasted great, they weren't too strong of a pickling flavor, and you can still taste the beet's wonderful flavor.
For Christmas, I just laid the sliced beets out next to some olives (drained and wiped with paper towels) to have as a sort of relish tray. Again not many of our dinner guests ate them, but me and my little one did!

So now that I know that at least one other perfon of my family likes beets, I'll be sure to get these more often! I have seen these at our local grocery store in the canned veggie section, so be sure to check there if you are a beet fan!

I wrote this review for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Aunt Nellie’s Beets. I received product to review and keep as compensation for my honest opinion of the product. All opinions for this review are that of myself & family.

Recap: Almond Biscotti

Another part of the teacher gift I made were these TWD Almond biscotti by Dorie Greenspan. I haven't made them since, but I sure remembered how much we all loved them here.

My original idea was to make them with some dark chocolate pieces and dried cherries and almonds. Well I sort of goofed on the bake time, they went over 15 minutes and the cherries became over baked(you know that kinda burnt chewiness, ick!) so I tossed those.

I decided not to mess with a good thing and made them as is again. They came out perfecto! This time I baked them one on each tray (unlike before, where I put 2 on a tray), and I piled the dough taller, and they didn't seem to flatten out as much this time either. Yay!

When they were done and cooled, I dipped them in semi and milk chocolate and set them to cool in the fridge for a bit. Then they were ready for the cute cookie box I found.

Even though these are twice baked, they are still a little soft, which I really like. I used all vanilla extract and left the almond extract out (not a fan). Be sure to check out the recipe here, I'm sure you'll love them too!

enjoy,

Winners for my Trident Layers Gum Giveaway are...

Each winner will get 2 packs of the new Trident Layers gum!

Winner #1 is comment #5 Charity!

Winner #2 is comment #3 Linda S.!

Congrats, please check your emails,

Review and Giveaway: Pillsbury Creative Creations and Gift Pack

Special thanks goes out to Pillsbury Creative Creations and MyBlogSpark for some Holiday foods to help you with your menu.

No holiday celebration is complete without appetizers made with flaky crescent dough. Here are some easy, yet impressive recipes to try that call for either Pillsbury® Refrigerated Crescent Rolls or the newer Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations® refrigerated seamless dough sheet.

Crescent-Wrapped Brie
Crescent Bacon-Cheese Tartlets
Crescent Holiday Tree

These appetizer recipes will help you entertain with ease while still wowing guests with tasty twists to familiar foods. And just one more reason to celebrate ... each recipe requires just 20 minutes of preparation.

To help me get creative, they sent us 2 VIP coupons for Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dough
and a set of three ceramic holiday platters to serve them on (only I forgot to photograph/use them).

I went ahead and created a few of my own tasty creations with what I had on hand.

Using the Big and Flaky Crescents, I made a turkey roll up with some Three Cheese Peperoncini hot cheese dip and parsley and also a turkey pesto Three Cheese Peperoncini galette. I also made another turkey with Artichoke & Jalapeño roll up. For the kids I made them a turkey and cream cheese crescent.

ONE "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" reader will win 2 VIP coupons for Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dough and holiday platters!

(This is a must before any extra entries will be accepted!)
1. All you have to do is visit their site and tell me what Pillsbury Crescent Appetizer Creation you would like to recreate!



Earn up to 5 extra entries by showing some "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" bloggie ♥ !
-Please post yourself a separate comment for each, letting me know which ones you do.

2. Follow me on Twitter here (I'll follow ya back if you tweet #3!)

3. Tweet about this giveaway once, using my new retweet button at top of post

4. (earn 2 bonus entries!) Blog about this giveaway on your blog & post your link here

5. Mention this giveaway link on your Facebook & post your link here


Remember, please don't forget to leave me contact info!*


This Giveaway ends: 11:59 pm pst, Wednesday, December 30, 2009.
Please read the fine print:
-Open to USA
-If it's not already in your profile* please leave your email!
-I will verify links/names & delete if false to be fair
-Winner(s) will be posted on my Blog & Twitter, the following day
-I will choose my winner(s) using Random.org

As always, be sure to follow along so you don't miss new things!




I wrote this review for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Pillsbury Creative Creations and the Gift Pack. Pillsbury provided us with the free product, information, and gift packs through MyBlogSpark. I received product to review and keep as compensation for my honest opinion of the product. All opinions for this review are that of myself & family.

Cranberry Chocolate Crunch Bark

My Sister in law brought this last year at Christmas, I just loved the rice crispy cereal in this! I have since lost the recipe somewhere, but was happy to see it posted recently. I made a batch of this to add to my little one's teacher gift. This is so good!

Cranberry Chocolate Crunch Bark
adapted by Mom Central's post

1 package (24 ounces) vanilla -flavored almond bark, coarsely chopped (in the baking aisle of the supermarket)
¾ cup whole or slivered almonds, coarsely chopped
¾ cup sweetened dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
2 cups crisp rice cereal
10 oz dark/semi sweet chocolate, melted for drizzling

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, place into the freezer at least 1 hour.
Place almond bark into a double boiler bowl, heat and stir until melted, being sure NO water gets into the chocolate bark.
Heat a small frying pan and toast nuts at a medium low temperature until golden brown. Keep an eye on the nuts so they don’t burn. Just takes a few minutes, be sure to stir them.
Remove from heat and add cranberries to the pan. Stir until combined.
Stir cereal and half of the nut mixture into melted bark.
Pour bark mixture onto cold tray, spreading evenly. Immediately sprinkle with remaining nut mixture and press lightly onto surface of bark.
Drizzle with melted dark chocolate, let stand 7-10 minutes or until bark is set. You could also place in the fridge for a bit to set quicker.
Bring edges of parchment up over bark and break into various size pieces.

Yield: about 1 cookie tray full

Tips:

•You can use two packages (12 ounces each) premium white or chocolate-flavored confectionery coating candy wafers instead of the almond bark.
•When melting almond bark, make sure your bowl and utensils are completely dry. Even
one drop of water will cause almond bark to harden and clump.
-Instead of a dark chocolate drizzle, you could also melt white chocolate and color it red or green with food coloring, festive for Christmas!







enjoy,