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Year of the Dragon with P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Dishes and Bistro

February 2, 2012 By 5 Comments

PF Chang’s celebrated Year of the Dragon with new prosperity peace and happiness. Why? Prosperity, peace, happiness and longevity all symbolize the Chinese New Year, one of the most important and festive Chinese holidays. And they make great Chinese food. If you’ve been a reader of MomStart long then you know that I enjoy their freezer meals like the Pepper Steak with Chow Fun Noodles. This is a yummy steak with a sweet and peppery sauce, bell peppers, onions and chow fun noodles.

Pepper Steak with Chow Fun Noodles

In this “Year of the Dragon” that actually began January 23, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and P.F. Chang’s Home Menu want to ignite your good fortune and share the spirit of this holiday. They want you to enjoy some of their different varieties while experiencing peace and longevity. So relax and create a masterpiece in less than 20 minutes or try you local PF Chang’s local bistro.

I received a Red Envelope Kit, the Red Envelope itself represents another significant tradition in Chinese culture. Red Envelopes, filled with gifts, are presented to family and friends during the Chinese New Year. The color red symbolizes good luck, and this kit was filled with festive items that our family was able to use to get in the Year of the Dragon mood, like cute red lanterns. Love them!

There are a wide variety of P.F. Chang’s Home Menu noodles for you to enjoy!  The flavors of Home Menu noodle entrees include Pepper Steak with Chow Fun Noodles, Grilled Chicken Teriyaki with Lo Mein Noodles, Garlic Chicken with Dan Dan Noodles, and Firecracker Shrimp with Yakisoba Noodles.  Yum Yum Yum.

Be sure to visit the P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Sweepstakes tab on Facebook and follow them on twitter @PFChangs

We received samples to facilitate this review.

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Bob’s Red Mill Granola Review

September 8, 2011 By 10 Comments

If you like to cook from scratch or bake, you should know Bob’s Red Mill. I have used them in the past for “odds and ins” like unsweetened coconut, rice flour, corn meal, wheat germ, and steal cut oats. If you’re a gluten-free home you should know Bob’s Red Mill too! If I’m introducing you to Bob’s Red Mill, your life is now changed for the better and you’re welcome!

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I’m lucky that Bob’s Red Mill contacted Louise and that I was given their new granola products to review. I’m already a fan, as you can tell, but to be honest about their granola … TASTY! I was given their natural, honey oat, cinnamon raisin, and apple blueberry granola products. You know from other posts that my husband and I love to eat granola in yogurt. My kids haven’t been into it until recently and my picky-eating 4YO even loves Bob’s Red Mill granola in his yogurt now! This makes a great snack or addition to breakfast (or second breakfast for those of you with hobbits for children, like mine).

clip_image004We have also used Bob’s Red Mill granola in homemade trail mix. Take a flavor you know your family will enjoy and add dried fruit, natural candy pieces, nut and seeds, and other bit-sized house favorites. This makes a great daily snack and travels well for afterschool snacks before extracurricular activities. Using Bob’s Red Mill products, you know you’re providing your child with a high quality, filling, nutritious snack. If fact, Bob’s Red Mill granola has an average of more than 27 grams of whole grains, 3 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of protein per serving.

You can also cook with Bob’s Red Mill granolas. You will want to look for my Thursday Treat recipes including Bob’s Red Mill granola – “Low-Sugar Bob’s Red Mill Granola Oat Cookies” from September 8 and “Easier-Than-Pie Cobbler” to be posted on October 13. Stay tuned to Mom Start for these delicious new recipes.

clip_image006Locate the Bob’s Red Mill products in your local grocery store. My favorite local store, TOP Food, offers a large selection of their products in the baking isle. Their products come in plastic bags and are stood together in cardboard bases. (By the way, this bag only system uses less than other brands which use the bag-inside-box method.) When looking for Bob’s Red Mill granola, the bag size is 12-ounces for about $3.89 MSRP.

Locate Bob’s Red Mill in your area with their store locator. If you can’t fine Bob’s Red Mill in your favorite grocery store, request it; stores love to know what you want to purchase! You can also get hooked up with some great deals shopping Bob’s Red Mill on their site. For more from Bob’s Red Mill, keep up with them on their blog, Facebook, and on Twitter @Bobs_Red_Mill.

Disclaimer: Samples were given for the facilitation of this review.

 

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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Byron’s Fully Cooked Pork BBQ Review & Layered BBQ Salad Recipe

July 20, 2011 By 10 Comments

My MOMS Club of Woodinville (MCW) recently had our End of Year Party. This is our biggest and best party of the year, and mostly highly attended. This year our party was catered by “For the Love of Food” a new company by one of our members. She homemade most of our magnificent dishes, but also on the menu clip_image002was Byron’s Fully Cooked Pork BBQ.

 

We had a tray that boasts feeding 30 sandwiches and was 4lbs of meat. We maybe got 30 sliders out of it. They recommend ¼ cup of meat as a serving with 33 servings in the tray … we MCW women must like our meat since our tray didn’t stretch that far. You can enjoy Byron’s Pork in sandwiches as we did or get some new ideas on the Byron’s recipe site.

 

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Try something new for dinner tonight!

clip_image005Layered BBQ Salad Recipe
Serves 8

3 cups Byron’s Fully Cooked Pork BBQ, warmed according to package directions
1 can baked beans
2 cups colorful coleslaw
1 bag (10 ounces) frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
2 cups green bell pepper, diced
Pickled okra for garnish

Heat baked beans on the stove on medium heat until warm (about 5 minutes), stirring occasionally. Layer bottom of a serving dish with the heated baked beans, followed by an even layer of corn kernels and then a layer of green bell peppers. Place an even layer of BBQ on top of the bell peppers, followed by the coleslaw. Place pickled okra on top for garnish.


I found Byron’s to be fully tasty and, unlike other pulled pork I’ve had, Byron’s is not fatty and fully meaty. I can pronounce all the ingredients which I love about a product, but I don’t like that one of them is High Fructose Corn Syrup which is in the ketchup in their sauce. There is also corn syrup in the Worcestershire sauce concentrate.

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Byron’s is available at local stores as well as at Sam’s Club and BJ’s though products are not available at all locations so you’ll have to check your local store.

Samples received to facilitate this review.

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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Enjoying Beanfields Chips

May 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I love chips, and I try to stay away from them because I have a tendency of eating a whole back all by myself and that’s not always a good idea. Chips are usually fried and full of unhealthy calories with little redeeming value like protein or vitamins of any kind. But I’m always up for a bag regardless. What if we could get a little goodness in a bag of chips?

Beanfields packages 2I just had the opportunity to try a bag of chips that satisfy that salty craving and give me something nutritious too, Beanfields Chips. Made from a combination of premium U.S. grown black beans, navy beans and long grain rice, Beanfields chips have a taste and crunch that sets them apart. My favorite flavor so far is the Pico De Gallo. YUM! What I love is that the nutritional value of beans is well-known,  and snack experts at Beanfields turned them into a light and crispy snack chip. The four flavors of Beanfields (Naturally Unsalted, Sea Salt, Sea Salt & Pepper, and Pico de Gallo) are a healthier and more satisfying snack, with twice as much protein and fiber as most tortilla, corn, or potato chips. So in between lunch and dinner I’ve been snacking on Beanfields.

Nutritionally Speaking:

Every 1 oz. serving of Beanfields chips provides 4 grams of protein, about as much as a 4 oz. glass of milk, and 4 grams of fiber, about the same as a ½ cup serving of raisin bran. The chips are also free of every one the FDA’s eight most common ingredients that trigger food allergies. For people who need to avoid salt, Beanfields chips also come in a great tasting unsalted version.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

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Treat Your Valentine with a Schwan’s Dessert Delivery Giveaway

February 4, 2011 By 250 Comments

I love Schwan’s! I’m not really sure why I haven’t looked into getting a delivery from them. They have so many great options to choose from. We had their Pot Pies last Fall and now we’re eating our way through their dessert menu. I even told them I would put together a video of us trying out their desserts and while I was away, my husband ate almost all the ice cream. It was my fault really, I didn’t tell him I was going to do a video review, and I don’t like fruity ice cream. I’m just not a big fan of seeds and Raspberries are full of seeds.

The night after I got home from my trip, he asked me if I wanted any ice cream. I asked him what we had, and we had Peppermint, Spumoni and Raspberry Rumble Premium Ice Cream from Schwan’s, I wasn’t so excited about it but I said that I needed to have a bite because I needed to write a review. So, I had a bite…. and… I wanted another… and I wanted another..

Dessert Trio from Schwan's

My husband got up and took the bowl with him, he said, you can have your own bowl I don’t want to share anymore with you. So we each had our own bowl. And I was really sad to find out that was all that was left. It was delicious! Oh So Delicious I want MORE. I wish it was sold at the grocery store because I want it right NOW!

I was shocked because I’ve never liked fruity ice cream before. MMM

But that wasn’t all they sent me. They also sent me microwaveable brownies and a bag full of frozen berries the Triple Berry Blend. My kids adore fruit!!! When I told them they get to have a brownie and fruit they were so excited. Bouncing off the walls excited.

schwan's desserts

Again, I wasn’t disappointed in the outcome. The kids had half of a brownie each and a bowl full of fruit. Me, I just had an entire browning to myself, because of all those seeds looking  out at me. So treat your Valentine to a Schwan’s Dessert Delivery Giveaway!

Enter to Win:

The ice cream $5.36
The brownies $5.68
The berries $7.40

Total value      $18.44

To Enter:

Tell me what your Valentine’s Day Plans are, are they Sweet?

Extra Entries:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

RT @MomStart: Treat Your Valentine with a Schwan’s Dessert Delivery #Giveaway http://bit.ly/fiEjAZ

Subscribe to my blog
Comment on any other non-giveaway post 
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble
Blog About this Giveaway (5 extra entries, linking to the giveaway)
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Vote for the Apple Champ in Hillshire Farms Most Wanted Sandwich http://gomeat.com (2 points per daily vote)

Tweet:

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This giveaway ends February 21st.  I was provided with the samples above for the review in this post. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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What Are You Whipping Up Cool Whip Giveaway

November 29, 2010 By 6 Comments

Kraft Products

It’s the Holidays and baking is a big part of the Holidays for us. Holiday baking becomes a family event in our house. I bet it is for all of you too. Kraft, Cool Whip, especially feels the same way. You know, a picture is worth 1000 words and I want to see your photos so in addition to the Cool Whip Dessert Contest I’m hosting, I’m also hosting a Cool Whip Kraft Twitter/Social Media Giveaway.

Show us your creations that you made using Cool Whip! If you visit CoolWhip.com you will find many fun recipes of things you can make extra delicious using cool whip. Like the Cool Whip Chocolate Ganache ready in 10 minutes. MMM.

Here is the whole process of Zoe, Miles and Andrew whipping up some Fantasy Fudge. (my excuse for not using cool whip is that thanks to that winter storm we had, yes it is gone, we haven’t made it back to the store yet) So we made Fantasy Fudge and I can’t keep my hands off of it. It was YUMMY! And Yes I feel it making an impact on waist but that’s not the point.

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Enter to Win:

25.00 Visa and a one-year subscription to Food & Family magazine (both prizes provided by Kraft)

To Enter:

Tweet your photo @momstart using the hashtag #coolwhipislove

Ex: @momstart upload photo #coolwhipislove

 

Kraft Fantasy Fudge

Extra Entries:

Any use of the share options below, facebook, dig, stumble..you name it.

Then leave the link to how you shared your photo!

 

Kraft Foods is providing the prize for this program at no cost to me.  This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Mom Start.

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Summer Cookout Ball Park Beef Franks and French Meadow Bakery Giveaway

July 1, 2010 By 232 Comments

ballparkOur hot dog of choice is Ball Park’s all Beef Franks. Every summer we purchase the mega packs at Costco and then we go to town on hot dogs. Everyone loves them and it’s so easy to make in the microwave or on the grill. So my freezer is stocked with Ball Park because Costco has a coupon this month for money off of the purchase of their hot dogs. We really do like these, it’s my husband’s favorite brand. Nothing else compares to him. I have to admit that now when I try to eat Oscar Meyer they just don’t taste as good.

Ball Park recently launched their Facebook page, feel free to check it out, become a fan (or “like”) and watch videos of Robin Paul, mother of NBA superstar, Chris Paul, where she speaks about the secrets to her sons success as part of the Ball Park "Taste of Success" program!

You can also find some really great recipes using the hot dogs. I grew up with a recipe called Creepy Weenies.

I lb of bacon

1 package of 12 hot dogs

1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes

Garlic

2 cups of brown rice un cooked

Cook Bacon, cut up into chunks, cook rice according to directions. Cut up hot dogs into chunks, Heat up Tomatoes and garlic and hot dog chunks. Then add the rice and bacon and it’s quite yummy. Not so healthy but it’s one of my favorites.

Recipe from the site:

Cheesy Chili Dog Macaroni Bake:
1 cup elbow macaroni
1 can (15 oz.) prepared chili with beans
4 Ball Park® Franks, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded mild cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup crushed corn chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare macaroni according to package directions; drain.
Combine chili, franks and tomatoes in medium saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until hot. Stir in macaroni and ½ cup of the cheese.
Spoon into a 2-quart baking dish; cover. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove cover and top with remaining cheese combined with corn chips. Bake for 10 minutes or until hot.

glutenfreecookies French Meadow Bakery makes natural baked goods, like special breads, gluten free, and even natural cookie dough. They are sold at stores like Whole Foods which is out of the way for me to shop at. I haven’t made a special trip out to Whole Foods to try them yet so I want to share all of my coupons with my readers. French Meadow started when Lynn Gordon was teaching a cooking class and pondering a new recipe for bread that would accommodate her special diet. She could not eat bread with yeast and sugar. That is how French Meadow Bakery was born. They use natural ingredients and no artificial colors or preservatives.

 

Enter to Win:

One Free French Meadow Bakery Product Coupon (9.99)

and 5 other coupons for money off French Meadow Products (total value 4.75)

and 2 Ball Park Free Product Coupons (5.99 each)

To Enter:

Tell me what your summer time picnic/grilling party would be like?

Extra Entries:

Tweet or hit the RT button up top:

Ball Park Summer Cook Out http://bit.ly/d5XIFe #giveaway #contest

Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
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Comment on any other non-giveaway post
Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site, your blog, and tell me where you advertised it Use any of the share options below.

This giveaway Ends July 19th. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

 

This is a product sponsored post.

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Ronzoni Smart Taste Review

June 3, 2010 By 3 Comments

Ronzoni Smart Taste is white pasta that is enriched with Fiber, Calcium and Vitamin D. I was given the challenge to taste it and compare it to another pasta brand.

 

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So I chose some pasta I already had in my pantry. It is Barilla Spaghetti verses Ronzoni Smart Taste spaghetti.

When I placed the pasta side be side the Barilla has more color. You can see that it looks like it has more yellow in it.

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Even after they were both cooked for the same amount of time, the Barilla still looked like it had more color. I’m not saying color is important because it’s not to me. I don’t care what color my pasta is, I like purple pasta, so does Zoe by the way!

 

image Tasting it:

I felt like the Barilla pasta tasted more like flour. The Ronzoni had more flavor to me. I almost want to say that it had a little bit of a nutty taste to it. My husband wasn’t home when I did the test so I don’t have his opinion but I would like to know his thoughts eventually. I like it and since it’s a great way to get more fiber, calcium and vitamin D I’m all for switching. I need more vitamin D in my diet, it helps with depression. (that’s what my doctor tells me, I’m no professional, so don’t take my advice)

 

 

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central  on behalf of Ronzoni and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review and photo contest entry. In addition, I received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter Review and #giveaway

January 13, 2010 By 448 Comments

I’ve been trying different Tropical Traditions product for a few months now and the Organic Coconut Peanut Butter is by far my favorite. One, I love peanut butter and two, I love coconut milk and the combination is like magic. I want to eat the peanut butter straight from the jar.

Organic Coconut Peanut Butter

Tropical traditions is made from organic Peanut Butter and organic Coconut. There is nothing else in it, no sweeteners, no fillers, not binders and it’s perfect. Valencia peanuts grown organically by family farmers in New Mexico and Texas. Grown in the dry climate of the southwestern United States, these peanuts are certified organic and free from aflatoxins. The dried coconut is certified organic coconut meat from the Philippines from coconuts that are grown with no fertilizers or pesticides. This premium dried coconut contains no additives or preservatives, and is not sweetened. I’ve been finding myself having a very hard time not eating it constantly. Let me tell you my experience from the beginning.

Working with Tropical Traditions has been my pleasure. I’ve enjoyed the experience and am excited every time they say I can pick a new product. I spent a little more time looking at each product individually as I made my decision and I found a gem. It arrived and I opened it right away. I pulled back the seal and my first reactions was. EEEWWW!

It looks funny because it is white on the top. Well, it’s organic “Coconut” peanut butter so what was I expecting. Of course I was expecting it to look exactly like peanut butter. I’m a little nut. ;-)

I took my spoon and dipped it in and it was love at first bite. MMM. I can’t wait to try out a recipe and make something with it. Tropical Traditions has quite a few recipes on their site and this one will be my first:

Coconut Peanut Butter Cup Hot Cocoa

4 – 5 servings
Preparation Time: 3 minutes

Combine dry ingredients in a medium saucepan and whisk in water over medium heat. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Boil for 2 minutes. Whisk in Coconut Peanut Butter.

Add milk and whisk and heat until hot, but do not boil. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract. Serve topping with whipped cream.

*If using honey, use less then you would for sugar. Brown sugar may be used.

Recipe courtesy Sarah Shilhavy

Thank you Sarah!!!

Third time is a charm, I can’t stop eating it.

To Enter:

Visit Tropical Traditions and tell me what product you want me to try next. I’m having a hard time deciding so I need your help. (required)

Extra Entries:

Visit Tropical Traditions and join their newsletter 3 extra entries
Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter (2 extra entries)
Become a fan of Tropical Traditions on Facebook (2 extra)

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog (recommended so that you don’t miss winner’s announcements) 
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID

Tweet the following (2 extra)

@momstart and @TropTraditions are giving away organic coconut peanut butter http://bit.ly/4ZAqdw

Blog or facebook about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you did
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: (two entries for each one)
Add my button/blog to your blogroll/friend list 3 extra entries
Email anyone you know to tell them about the giveaway include a link to the giveaway, carbon copy louise@looksblue.com (1 extra per e-mail address)

Leave a comment for every entry

The contest will run until Feb 1 st  11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

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Wendy’s A Little Something Spicy Chicken Review and #giveaway

December 22, 2009 By 421 Comments

I worked with Mom Central a few months ago and received a 20.00 Gift Card for blogging about Wendy’s Boneless Chicken Wings. At the time, I didn’t review them, I just advertised for them, so now I’m going to tell you what I think of them and give 5 5.00 Gift Cards away. I loved them. I had the sweet and sour chicken it was delicious. Just the right crispiness covered in sweet and sour sauce. Yum.

I recently went to Wendy’s and purchased myself a meal and my kids some food and I still had money left over on my 20.00 gift card. I love that one person can eat for under 5.00 easily at Wendy’s. Now Wendy’s is introducing Spicy Chicken nuggets. Oh my mouth is watering and I want to run over there and get some. I love their spicy Chicken Sandwich and their Spicy Chicken wrap. Now you can get just the spicy chicken. MMMMM. I still can’t drive yet from my surgery so I’m stuck here just thinking about them. I wish Wendy’s delivered or that I could walk about two miles, it’s just down the street.

New Spicy Chicken Nuggets are made from real, all white breast meat chicken, coated with Japanese style breadcrumbs and packed with a potent array of spices like red pepper, chili pepper, turmeric, paprika and ground mustard seed. I love it all! Best part is that they are part of the 99 cent value menu.

Now you can try them on Wendy’s!

 

To Enter:

Tell me what you like about Wendy’s.

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog or facebook about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you did
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: (two entries for each one)
Add my button/blog to your blogroll/friend list 3 extra entries

Leave a comment for every entry

The contest will run until January 11th  11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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