Hillshire Farms Archives

Hillshire Farm’s Lit’l Smokies Entertaining Recipe Lit’l Luau

December 22, 2012 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Hillshire Farm’s Lit’l Smokies Entertaining Recipe Lit’l Luau

Ingredients

1 pkg. Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies^®
Canned pineapple (1 can)
Edible flowers

Directions:

Feel the island heat by heating Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies^® according to package directions.
Be the big kahuna and cut 1 canned pineapple ring in half.
Hula dance while wrapping two halves of pineapple around each Lit’l Smokie^®.
Let the luau begin. Garnish with small edible flowers.

Yield: 20 servings(2 each)

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Hillshire Farms Lit’l Smokies Entertaining Recipe Pig In Heaven Recipe

December 19, 2012 by Momstart 8 Comments

Who doesn’t like bacon and lit’l Smokies, now try combining the two for extra greatness. This is a recipe that is sure to fly off the plate as these pigs in heaven are devoured right before your eyes. So you’ll want to make quite a few of them. So here is the Pig in Heaven Recipe

Pig in Heaven Recipe

Ingredients

1 pkg. Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies^®
1 pkg. Thick Sliced Bacon

Directions:

Prepare the pearly gates. Preheat oven to 400°F.
Be an angel and open the package of Lit’l Smokies^® and drain off any liquid.
Get them ready to meet St. Peter. Cut each bacon slice into 3-4 pieces. Wrap each sausage with a piece of bacon; secure with a toothpick.
Get their cloud ready. Place on a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
Pray for a perfect party. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until bacon is browned.
Yield: 20 servings (2 Heavenly pigs each)

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Hillshire Farms Lit’l Smokies Entertaining Reindog Recipe

December 18, 2012 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Are you in need of a little bit of holiday cheer with a lot of flavor and not a lot of work? Then you might want to consider using Hillshire Farms Lit’l Smokies and create a festive little reindeer I mean dog.

Hillshire Farms Entertaining Reindog Recipe

Ingredients

1 pkg. Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies^®
Seasalt
Ketchup
Pretzel twists

Directions:

Put on some holiday music and heat Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies^® according to package directions.
Get the reingdogs ready for their big night. Break a small pretzel twist in half. Stick a pretzel half into both sides of sausage to resemble antlers (it tickles, It doesn’t hurt).
Add their party bling. Use 2 small drops of mustard for eyes and a small drop of ketchup for the nose.

Yield: 20 servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 2-3 minutes

Granny Ev’s Chicken Pilau Recipe – Featuring Hillshire Farms and Jimmy Dean

August 12, 2012 by Momstart 26 Comments

Granny Ev’s Chicken Pilau Recipe – Featuring Hillshire Farms and Jimmy Dean

By: Ashley

Since I had such a great time meeting our friends at Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farms this weekend, I wanted to share a family recipe that uses BOTH types of sausage. Yep, that right! One dish, 2 kinds of sausage. Sounds good already, doesn’t it?!?

Anyone who knows my family knows exactly what Pilau is… though they might think it should be spelled PERLOW. It’s the rice, chicken, sausage goodness that my mom makes for… well… for everyone and everything. It is DELICIOUS. It’s a South Carolina dish and sometime called “Chicken Bog.” What Mom (aka Granny Ev) makes is actually more of a bog that a Pilau since Pilau usually comes with vegetables in it too, but whatever. It’s my mama’s Pilau (which used to be my Mama Pat’s Pilau) and it’s yummy!

So, without further ado, here is

Granny Ev’s Chicken Pilau Recipe

.Ingredients:
2 – 4 boneless skinless chicken breats halves (depending on size)
1 Hillshire Farms Smoked Turkey Sausage
1 lb Jimmy Dean Sage Sausage
1 1/2 c. rice (not fast cook… just regular white long grain rice)
3 c. chicken broth (can be low sodium/low fat)

Directions:

Boil the chicken. After it has cooled, pull the chicken apart into small pieces. Put aside until later.

Slice the smoked sausage and put into skillet along with a small amount of water (just enough to barely coat the bottom of the pan). Add the lb. of ground sausage to the skillet. Cook the sausages together until done. Drain the grease from the pan.

Return the skillet (with sausage) to the heat. Add 3 c. of chicken broth to pan. Add in 1 1/2 c. of rice. Bring liquid to a boil. You can add salt and pepper. Reduce heat and let simmer while covered so the rice will cook. Stir occasionally so the rice doesn’t stick. (Keep an eye on your rice and add more broth or water as it cooks. I almost always have to add more liquid.)

When the rice is pretty much finished, stir in your chicken. While on low heat, stir occasionally and let the chicken heat up. Once the rice is cooked, and the chicken is warm… EAT!

You should know that this is one of the only written down versions of this recipe that my family has. Trying to figure out how much of what actually went into this dish was CRAZY! That said, I think I’ve got it it pretty close to accurate. With anything I cook or write a recipe for though, make adjustments as you see fit. It’s a family recipe… which means you should make it special to YOUR family. =)

About Ashley (Managing Editor at MomStart): Ashley is a mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and former teacher working to navigate through the mysterious world of Mommyia. Read more about her adventures at Momicles and follow her @Momicles2010 .

Find @MomStart Cooking it Up: Hillshire Farms #Blogher12 Booth #1005 Turkey Sausage Jambalaya Recipe

July 31, 2012 by Momstart 13 Comments

No they are not my sponsor, my Blogher12 sponsor is Pampers, but everyone has to eat and I did this in advance but feel amazing honored for Hillshire Farms to be featuring this recipe at their booth at Blogher that’s going to be seen by what over 4000 bloggers? Honestly, I had help coming up with this recipe, usually I search around the web until I’m inspired. I’ll use something like Allrecipes.com and type in the ingredients that I want to use and see what looks good to me and my family. This time, I found two chefs at my church to help me. I gave them the requirements and this is what they came up with and are letting me use on my blog. I’m very grateful to them for their help and will share their FULL story at a later date because they have an amazing testimony to share.

This is the main ingredients. I was challenged to create a recipe with one of three different types of Hillshire Farms sausage. I chose Turkey Kielbasa Sausage. Then I had to choose things from three other categories. This is what they helped me come up with.

Turkey Sausage Jambalaya

For a family of 4

Ingredients:

½ a 13 oz package Turkey Kielbasa Sausage Jambalaya

½ onion chopped
1 cup diced mushrooms
2 cups tri colored peppers chopped
1 cup of rice
½ tsp. Cajun spice
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
½ tsp. black pepper
2 cloves garlic or 1 tsp. garlic powder
½ cup tomato sauce
1 ½ chicken stock
1 Tablespoon oil
2 diced tomatoes
2 tsps. Salt
2 tsp. Thyme

Directions:

Pour oil in the pan and heat the pan on medium heat
Toss in all the veggies until they are translucent/ starting to get soft
Add the rice and toast it (lightly brown)
Add the sausage, salt, and other spices and the liquids, stir then simmer until the broth and tomato sauce is absorbed

Toss the rice mixture with the freshly chopped tomatoes and thyme.

Thank you to Hillshire Farms for this opportunity and for the gift card to buy all the ingredients and a Spa Finder Gift Card. Plus I have to thank Pampers for sponsoring me to Blogher12 without I wouldn’t have this opportunity to showcase a recipe.

Roast Beef & Cheddar Rolls Recipe

September 2, 2011 by Momstart 30 Comments

Another simple recipe that was so easy it only took minutes to prepare. I LOVE Roast Beef, cheddar and tomatoes. It’s what I love to order at Subway, but I don’t want to spend that much money on something to prepare for the whole family. SO we went out and bought a Costco size bag of potato rolls and some Hillshire Farms Roast Beef and put together our own toasted sandwiches.

Roast Beef & Cheddar Rolls Recipe:

Of course you could make your own rolls but I’m so not into that.

Ingredients:

Potato Bread Dinner Rolls
Roast Beef
Tomatoes
Cheddar Slices

Directions:

You have to toast the rolls in my opinion

Preheat the oven to 350
Heat the Rolls for 3 minutes
Add the cheese and the Roast Beef and heat for 3 more minutes
Cut up the tomatoes and put two slices on each roll
Add Mayo or whatever condiment you enjoy most

ENJOY!

Why Do You Really Cook Vlog

August 12, 2011 by Momstart 27 Comments

At the Hillshire Farm’s Booth at Blogher this year they were asking bloggers to tell their dirty little secrets on camera. They wanted to know the truth behind what motivates you to cook for your family. So my friend Crystal (Simply Being Mommy) and I (MomStart) jumped in the booth and shared our secret motivations behind getting dinner on the table. Watch…..

I think every mom of younger kids constantly hears the words I’m hungry. It’s the worst at say about 5:00 PM when my own stomach starts grumbling and I have no idea what to make. The kids are at my feet and I want to just run to the nearest fast food place to get something quick. But that’s unhealthy, costly, and unrealistic. So I cook for my family.

I actually enjoy cooking and when I do I know that I’m helping to teach my kids good decisions about food. I have all the control and know the kids are getting everything their body needs, vitamins and what not. I cook because I enjoy cooking, to save money, and to feed my kids healthy food.

Why do you cook?

Thank you Hillshire Farms for presenting me with this fun opportunity at Blogher.

Life Behind the Blog: Why We Do The Things We Do

April 27, 2011 by Momstart 10 Comments

I’ve been keeping extremely busy behind the blog. My husband and I are taking a class at church called Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey and well we’re learning all kinds of things, and mainly we’ve come to the decision to live our lives differently. We’re working very hard selling stuff we don’t use or no longer need, and I’ve sold a few things that I really loved to make a little extra money to put some of Dave’s practices into place. You may have even noticed that I’ve been doing more sponsored posts and have been trying out a few advertising techniques in order to earn a little money. Every little bit helps.

I’ve also been working on a few different charity projects. I don’t’ blog about all the charity work that I do, or mention it as much as I used to but I haven’t changed, most of the products received are still donated. I’m still making an impact in my community with all the work I do here on MomStart. I know that other bloggers look at my site and see it as a waste of on-line space but I’ve decided I don’t care what they think anymore. Everything I do and all the hard work and commitments I sign up for help this site be the success that it is and open up the opportunities that allow me to do things to help others. I love what I do, and I love the people I’ve met and the PR reps that I get to work with. So I hold my head up high knowing that I do have integrity in all that I do. And just to say thank you to all the companies involved in the larger projects we’re working on, I wanted to mention a few of them. Here are four of our current projects that we’re working on right now as a MomStart team behind the blog!

Box Out Hunger – The Box Out Hunger cereal drive is something that my local MOMS Club chapter does to benefit the Maltby Food Bank. This year MomStart has been working with the Nature’s Path Organics Food company. So we asked them if they would match our collection box for box and they said yes. So a big thank you to Nature’s Path Organics from MOMS Club of Woodinville WA and MomStart. Maltby Food Bank uses these boxes of cereal and snacks to feed kids that would normally get a free meal at school, and during the summer would otherwise go hungry.

Eastside Domestic Violence Program Fundraiser – Remember that sandwich competition that I was part of? Hillshire Farms donated 1000.00 to the Eastside Domestic Violence Program on behalf of my participation in the contest. I’ve also gathered up quite a few products (over $1800.00 worth) and things that were hardly used or were given to me from companies to donate directly. The Eastside Domestic Violence Program is having their yearly auction and fundraiser World of Hope Dinner & Auction on May 14th 2011 and I’m quite proud to be apart of it.

Pampers Miracles – As a Pampers Baby Board Ambassador, I’ve been given the opportunity to host a charity event of my making. They are providing me with the means to do some very large random acts of kindness that I can use to throw an event or just donate to a charity that helps little miracles. I’m so excited to be apart of the Pampers little miracles program and can’t wait to start helping little miracles. I’ve pulled in some of my friends to help me come up with ideas and this ones going to be BIG, so it will take much of our time and you’ll see even fewer personal posts while we’re working on this one.

Seattle Mom Prom – Summer has been quite an asset to MomStart this year and she’s been working on supporting the Seattle Mom Prom. On May 21, 2011 at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center from 8pm until Midnight Seattle Mom Prom will be raising money for Postpartum Support International of Washington. We’ve been collecting products for them to use as door prizes or possibly auction items and we can’t wait to be part of the fun. If you live in the Seattle area you can find out more by checking out the Seattle Mom Prom website, Liking their Seattle Mom Prom Facebook page, and following them on Twitter @SeattleMomProm. If you’re a company and want to help by giving a donation you can contact Myla Rugge through her Mom Prom email address [seattlemomprom@live.com].

All of these things are because of this blog, the support from our readers, and the companies that we work with. So the personal posts may have slowed down for the time being, but that’s because we’re working very hard behind the scenes. Thank you everyone that makes all of this possible.

I Need Help in the Hillshire Farms Most Wanted Sandwich Vote Apple Champ!

January 16, 2011 by Momstart 33 Comments

There are 15 different sandwich recipes all competing for the Hillshire Farms Most Wanted Sandwich. The winner will receive 5,000 to keep and another 5,000 to donate to charity. We had to choose our charity up front, and I chose to give mine to The Eastside Domestic Violence Program. So your voting is going to make a huge difference, no matter who wins, a very worthy charity is going to win too! Each of us competing against each other brought our game day faces as we went head to head making our local fresh variety sandwiches. I created the Apple Champ:

Apple Champ

Potato Bread

Honeycrisp Apple (grated with a cheese grader) If you can’t find a honeycrisp let’s use a granny smith apple
Hillshire Farm Signature Honey Ham
Sharp Cheddar Cheese Slice
Honey Mustard dressing

Directions:

1. Use an cheese grater to grate up the apple, by grating the apple you can add as much or as little apple as you like. Spritz with some lemon juice if you want the apple to keep it’s fresh look and color

2. Place the Ham on the sandwich

3. Place one slice of cheddar on the ham

4. Place the grated up apple on the sandwich

5. Drizzle some honey mustard over the top of the apple

Voting started yesterday so I’m a little bit behind, ok, I’m actually really far behind, but I know we can catch up.

All I need you to do is to go to GoMeat.com and vote for the Apple Champ, you might have to scroll over to vote for me. Remember, Apple Champ, Louise Bishop, http://momstart.com Mom Start. Once you vote you will receive the opportunity to download a coupon to save on your next purchase of Hillshire Farms Fresh Deli Lunch Meat. It’s our family favorite and has been for 7 or 8 years.

Go Meat!

Happy Holidays From Santa’s Sleigh! Wordless Wednesday

December 7, 2010 by Momstart 27 Comments

I just wanted to spend today just wishing everyone Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Samantha Bee, Me and the whole team at eBay!

May you (all my readers and Wordless Wednesday Friends all have an Unwrap Attack waiting for you under the tree!

Don’t forget to Enter to win 100.00 Unwrap Attack of your own courtesy of eBay!

Ok, I’m now done with the words. Feel free to link up!

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that my time, travel and accommodations have been compensated by eBay for my participation in the Love to Give campaign. Although I have a material connection to eBay, any publicly stated opinions of eBay remain my own.