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Homemade Hamburger Mac & Cheese Recipe

August 26, 2011 By 21 Comments
I grew up on Hamburger Helper and box meals. Ok, I had a bit of half and half it depended on which parents house I stayed at. So I think that’s why I just love semi-homemade recipes. That being said, today’s recipe that I’m going to share with you is a completely home made recipe.

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Home Made Hamburger Mac & Cheese Recipe:

Homemade Hamburger Mac & Cheese Recipe
5.0 from 1 reviews
Print
Recipe Type: Entree
Author: Louise Bishop
Ingredients
  • 1/2 lb hamburger meat
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic
  • 8 ounces macaroni
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese
Directions
  1. Brown the hamburger meat, season the meat with salt and garlic
  2. Simmer in 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  3. Boil the Macaroni 8 minutes set aside and drain
  4. Melt the butter in a sauce pan and add the flour and salt
  5. Cook on medium heat for 2 minutes stirring constantly
  6. Add the milk and stir. Cook until thickens stirring constantly over medium heat
  7. Once thick add the cheese and take off the heat.
  8. Return the pasta to the cheese mixture and then add the beef mixture and serve.
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Fabulous Savings at Russell’s Dining & Bar in Bothell

August 26, 2011 By 16 Comments

Now I have another great juicy deal for you today, good news is this deal is so great it’s the Weekend Juicy Deal. For $30.00 you will get a $60.00 voucher to use at Russell’s.

imageRussell’s is located in Bothell WA and it looks like such a great place to go eat. I love that it’s in my backyard, you know so close. It’s known for its upscale-yet-simple menu and informal-yet-elegant restored farmhouse setting. Russell’s Dining & Bar is the perfect destination for date night, girls’ night or family night. Also the mastermind behind the Garden Café at Molbak Conservatory (which I’ve been told is a very tasty place to eat), Executive Chef/Owner Russell Dean Lowell, supports local farmers and wineries while creating unique culinary dishes in a warm, welcoming atmosphere that’s fun and family-friendly. Take your spouse, take your friends, take your kids — you can even take your own Washington wine for no corkage fee, or come in on a Sunday evening and get $10 off a bottle — but whatever you do, be sure to take your taste buds for this unique dining experience!

Don’t forget to read the details:

Entire value must be used in one transaction. Excludes tax and gratuity. Limit 1 JITC Deal Code per table. Reservations recommended. May receive an additional $10 off a purchase of a bottle of wine if deal is redeemed on a Sunday after 4:30pm.

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Giveaway Jingle Link Up Your Giveaways Here

August 25, 2011 By 4 Comments

You’ve got a giveaway, I want to know about it! Oh, and if you list your giveaway on Mom Start Facebook page then I will try to remember to tweet it out to all of my twitter followers. If you could link directly to the giveaway you want me to tweet that would be very helpful. At 10,300 followers and growing all the time! Cool? I hope so!

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I’ve got a few giveaways you might want to check out too!

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Groundspeak’s Geocaching Block Party Encourages Play Time Outside

August 25, 2011 By 15 Comments

Any day is really a great day to get out and Geocache, but geocaching isn’t just about locating caches, there is a whole community in geocaching and in our area there are events almost every weekend such as meals – BBQs, potlucks, meet and eats; clean-up projects; and cach-aversary or holiday parties. On Saturday, August 20, 2011 my family attended Groundspeak’s Block Party (GC2FYVM) in the Fremont Neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. This is a local event for us as we live in the Seattle area which just so happens to be the home of Groundspeak.

At this event there was a scavenger hunt of tasks. We had coordinates that led us to tasks sponsored by host businesses; this year’s hosts were the community of Fremont, Theo chocolate, Evo, and Mischief Distillery. After we completed a task then we received pieces to a puzzle. When our puzzle was complete we had to bring it back to the event GZ and obtain an event trackable.

Here are some pictures of our day of fun to inspire you to play outside and geocache! You can also discover my event trackable:

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About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm.

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Behind the Magic Of Disney’s PROM & Cast Available on Blu-ray & DVD August 30th

August 25, 2011 By 16 Comments

With the Blu-ray and DVD of Disney’s film Prom coming out soon, Disney went behind the cameras to bring us the magic of the journey of a group of high school students as they learn the complex truths of growing up, balancing relationships and enjoying the most memorable time of their lives known as PROM.

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THE STORY…

What’s the movie about? Producer Justin Springer has the answers! “We wanted to create a real story about teenage life,” he explains. “We wanted to create a comedic and dramatic movie about the different characters you meet in high school – and we centered the story around their prom.”

PROM QUEEN…

“People thought we were creating a new High School Musical when we started work on the film, but Prom is completely different,” admits actress Aimee Teegarden. “Prom is a classic, timeless story where the characters don’t burst into song and dance numbers.”

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DRAMA CLASS…

The film’s casting team spent four months scouring the world for the perfect actors to star in the movie. “The casting process was really long, but it was a lot of fun,” reveals Prom’s director, Joe Nussbaum. “We looked at thousands of kids, but we eventually discovered the perfect people for the various roles in the movie.”

STARS IN THEIR EYES…

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More than 200 extras had to be kitted out in prom outfits for the film’s finale scenes. “The theme of the prom in the movie is ‘Starry Night’,” explains actress Aimee Teegarden. “The crew decorated a school hall with lots of stars, moons and shimmering lights for those scenes. The room looked magical and beautiful!”

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY…

All of the actors immediately clicked as soon as they started filming. “The cast got along really well,” admits Cameron Monaghan. “We hung out together off set, as well as on set. We would go to dinner together and watch movies together… We became a family that didn’t want the film shoot to end!”

FILMING FUN…

It took 30 days to shoot all of the action in Prom. “The story is set in a fictional Michigan school called Brookside High School,” reveals producer Justin Springer. “Want to know a secret? We used four different schools in Los Angeles to stand in for Brookside!”

GRUB’S UP…

On the set of the school drama, the cast and crew snacked on healthy treats including fruit, raw vegetables and dips, as well as warm cheese quesadillas. “The food was amazing,” reveals actress Danielle Campbell. TMcDonell & ATeegarden3

COOKIE TIME…

The acting gang didn’t always stick to healthy food on the set. “Every day, a lady from the catering department would wander around the set with warm chocolate chip cookies,” admits Aimee Teegarden. “They were awesome! Everyone would have to take at least one warm cookie. It was bliss.” Mmmm!

MEET THE CAST!

Discover the famous faces behind the movie’s characters… TMcDonell2

THOMAS MCDONELL

“I play Jesse Richter in Prom. Jesse is a loner and he’s a bit of a rebel – but he’s nothing like me in real life. He’s a complicated guy because he has a lot of issues at home.” ATeegarden4

AIMEE TEEGARDEN

“I play Nova Prescott in the movie. Nova is in charge of the school prom and she takes her role very seriously. She likes everything to be perfect – but it doesn’t always work out that way.” NBraun1

NICHOLAS BRAUN

“My character is Lloyd and he spends most of the movie trying to get a date for the school prom. He’s pretty invisible at school, but he’s a romantic at heart and he provides a lot of the comedy in the film.” DCampbell

DANIELLE CAMPBELL

“I play a very down-to-earth girl named Simone Daniels in Prom. Simone is a free spirit who loves music and playing the guitar – and she’s very similar to me in real life. I’m down to earth, I love music and I’ve started to learn the guitar, too!”JKusnitz & NBraun

JARED KUSNITZ

“I play a guy named Justin Wexler in the movie. Justin is a sweet, smart and loyal guy who is besotted with his girlfriend at school. Their relationship has a lot of ups and downs during the movie – but ultimately things work out for the best.”

JOrtiz1JANELLE ORTIZ

“My character is the gossip girl of the movie. Her name is Ali Gomez and she knows everything about everybody in her school. She knows all the drama and all of the details – and she was so much fun to play.”DNixon

DE’VAUGHN NIXON

“Tyler Barso is the name of my character in Prom. Tyler is the most popular guy in school. He’s smart, charismatic and he’s the captain of the lacrosse team – but he’s also a self-absorbed charmer who finds himself in trouble!” KBunbury2

KYLIE BUNBURY

“My character is the most popular girl in school. Her name is Jordan Lundley and she is the head cheerleader. Movies usually portray cheerleaders as mean girls, but Jordan is very different. She’s a really sweet girl.”

PROM is Available on Blu-ray & DVD August 30th!

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Tasty Treat Thursday: Breaded Salted Caramel Chocolates Recipe

August 25, 2011 By 27 Comments
Oh how I love to look at Summer’s recipes. She sent me this week’s recipe and I can’t wait to try it. I know the kids are going to love it too. What do you think, want some chocolates?

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“Breaded” Salted Caramel Chocolates Recipe

 

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Tasty Treat Thursday: Breaded Salted Caramel Chocolates Recipe
5.0 from 3 reviews
Print
Author: Summer Oleksy
Ingredients
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup butter, softened or melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • teaspoon almond extract
  • 1¼ cups flour
  • cup oatmeal
  • cup ground flaxseed
  • cup wheat germ
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 eggs
  • 1½ cups dark or semisweet chocolate chips
  • cup caramel bits
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350oF. Grease cookie sheet with a light amount of butter.
  2. In your Kitchen Aid stand mixer with Flat Beater attachment. Cream together sugar and butter. Mix in extracts.
  3. Add in flour, oatmeal, flaxseed, wheat germ, salt and soda. Stir until crumbles form.
  4. Drop in eggs. Mix completely.
  5. Add chips and bits using only the “stir” setting or mix in with wooden spoon until they appear throughout the dough.
  6. Cook for 10 minutes or until edges appear golden brown. Cool on pan for 2 minutes before removing to a cooking rack or counter top.
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TLC Skin Care Savings

August 25, 2011 By 19 Comments

Today’s Juicy deal is 50% savings at TLC Skin Care in Woodinville WA. I have nocited that even though we haven’t had much sun this summer, my skin looks like it had a little too much fun in the sun. At TLC Skin Care they promise to help erase those telltale signs with a facial from Stephanie Negrete of TLC Skin Care. For $62 you will be receiving a facial usually valued at $125 which is a savings of 50%.

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Negrete, a registered nurse, licensed esthetician and licensed permanent makeup artist, will give your skin the pick-me-up it needs. You’re in good hands with this 19-year nursing veteran who worked in intensive care units in the US Army and studied skincare at the Euro Institute of Skin Care. Negrete combines medical expertise with traditional techniques, tailoring each 60-minute session to the client. The $62 medical facial features microdermabrasion as well as extractions, masque and massage leaving you as relaxed as you are glowing.

This Juicy deal is redeemable for a 60-minute customized medical facial that includes extractions, massage, masque and micro dermabrasion. Must be redeemed in one visit. Appointment required. 24-hour Cancellation Policy: JITC Deal Code will be void if an appointment is missed without canceling or rescheduling 24 hours in advance. Excludes gratuity.

 

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From Smoothies to Popsicle Recipes: The No Veggie Left Behind Act

August 24, 2011 By 26 Comments

You know what gets me? How I used to throw away the tops and ends of carrots, the cores for tomatoes (and the skins of the tomatoes I just blanched and peeled for canning), the uneaten HALVES of apricots, the peels of apples, or very ripe (but not rotten) fruit because let’s face it who wants to eat it? Not me … but I will drink it and so will my family.

clip_image002We bought a Vita-Mix, about 4 years ago, after many years of seeing the demos at Costco and always loving the samples. The great thing is you can use more of your fruits and vegetables such as the hard fiber core of pineapples — you won’t eat it, but you can drink it!

The Vita-Mix is versatile and can make ice creams, smoothies, salsas, sauces, and soups. There is also a Dry Grains Container (which I don’t own yet) but the blade is specially designed to process grains into flours; the baker in me LONGS for this attachment I just haven’t taken the plunge yet.

In our family we use the Vita-Mix most for smoothies and popsicles, which are actually the same thing but one liquid is in a cup and one is frozen on a stick. Having a Vita-Mix though has helped us eat healthier and as you can see we waste less too which saves us money and gives us health.

In your freezer start saving your leftovers in a freezer-burn proof container so no fruits and veggies are left behind. If you start doing this you might find yourself making more than one container – (1) fruits, (2) veggies for smoothies, (3) veggies for pureeing into soups. You might not want to combine your fruits and veggies for smoothies so you can make the right ratio.

Your recipe might be different each time, but in mine I tend to have:

1 cup veggies to 2 cups fruit

This makes the mixture sweet and “hides” the vegetables which typically aren’t as sweet. Use your discretion on the vegetables you save from smoothies versus soups such as cabbages which are bitter (this includes broccoli and cauliflower) and bulbs are STRONG (think onions and garlic); you can include cabbages and bulbs in a smoothie but you might not want as much.

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So my trick besides the veggie to fruit ratio is not to add water or dairy. I make my mixtures all fruits and veggies, you just include:

½ fresh and ½ frozen

The mixture comes out smooth and frosty. If the mixture is too fresh it will be watery and if the mixture is too frozen it won’t blend well because it’ll be too solid. The half-and-half mixture is perfect for now or later; I try to make popsicles first in all my available molds then the kids (and DH) can enjoy some now and some later snacking. If you don’t yet own popsicle molds GET SOME!

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I saw a set of 4 molds at Bed Bath and Beyond today that have a straw in the cup like base so you don’t lose any of the goods you made. I found my set of 6 rocket pop molds at our local Ross store recently. You can get the same “Tovolo Rocket Pop Molds” I bought from Amazon [] for about $9. These molds are not only BPA free, but they are dishwasher safe with is a big AWESOME in my kitchen as I don’t need any extra work. And by the way, this makes me the COOLEST MOM EVER because I let my kids have popsicles before or after breakfast when they’re available because it’s just fruits and vegetables and they think they’re getting a treat.

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DISCLAIMER: I was not approached by Vita-Mix or Tovolo to write this review. I simply own a Vita-Mix and love it. I feel the Vita-Mix is superior to other blender machines. Tovolo just happens to make the rocket shapes which I use as molds, and my sons love to play with and eat the rocket popsicles.

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm.

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Wordless Wednesday She’s Too Cute

August 23, 2011 By 34 Comments

 

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If I had my way she wouldn’t grow anymore.

 

 

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Tropical Cottage Cheese Smoothie Recipe

August 23, 2011 By 7 Comments

At Blogher this year one of the suites was represented by Daisy. In that sweet you could get a hand treatment or have a touch up on your make up. I opted for the make up and while I was there I learned more about healthy protein, unique recipe ideas and Daisy Cottage Cheese.

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I never ever considered using cottage cheese in a smoothie recipe before visiting with the Daisy representatives, so I had to test it out on the kids. It was a hit, I even liked it. It’s not as sweet as a yogurt smoothie and it does have more protein.

Tropical Cottage Cheese Smoothie Recipe:

Tropical Cottage Cheese Smoothie Recipe
Recipe Type: Snack,
Author: Louise Bishop
Ingredients
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1 banana
  • 1 8 oz can of Dole Pineapple (drain the juice)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
  1. Put Milk in Blender
  2. Put cottage cheese and then add the fruit to the blender
  3. Next add the vanilla and blend until smooth.
  4. Depending on how smooth you like the smoothie you might add the pineapple juice from the can to your mixture and blend some more

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