Sunday, February 27, 2011

Menu Plan Monday

Have you entered to win the cupcake lovers necklace giveaway? Enter HERE!


Last week's menu didn't go as planned. One of us or both of us were gone pretty much every night of the week at dinner time. Needless to say we didn't quite get to everything on the menu...so there may be some repeats.

It is going to be another week of working around the house. After 15 hours of work...the wallpaper is STILL not completed. I am thinking another good 8 hours should do the job. Then on to repairing the holes I made...prying it off and painting over it all. We have also completely ripped out our lower bath so there will be lots of work to do on that. We are pretty much tearing the house up. Complete mess. I am trying to keep it EASY this week...





Monday- Egg and Green Chile Breakfast Casserole, Sliced Fruit
Tuesday-
Grilled Chicken, Roasted Cauliflower, Broccoli
Wednesday- Grilled Steak, Glazed Carrots, Lima Beans
Thursday-
Parmesan Garlic Chicken with Green Beans with Sun Dried Tomatoes
Friday- Black Bean Soup, Salad
Saturday- Out to Eat
Sunday- Grilled Steak, Salad with Craisins, Feta, and Pecans


What is on your menu this week?

Friday, February 25, 2011

Mamaw's Spaghetti Sauce

I am sharing my Mamaw's famous spaghetti sauce today. I am not sure if it is really quite famous, but it sure is in our family! I made this last week on my freezer cooking day and I saved a little out for a quick, easy, and delicious dinner.

Why is it that most people don't make their own sauce?

It is pretty much as easy as heating up store bought sauce...just a few extra cans to open. Not to mention the frugality of it. I made each batch for about $3 with my sale stuff...but even without you could do it for $4. Add a box of pasta and you have a cheap meal!

As a child, I think Mamaw made this on every family vacation. It was always something to look forward to! I love that I not only have a Christian heritage passed down to me, but great family recipes!

I like to double or even triple it and keep it in the freezer. Mamaw was doing that long before freezer cooking was ever trendy.

Do you think I am a total nerd for saying freezer cooking is trendy...it is, isn't it? You hear about it everywhere now.





Ingredients:
1 pound hamburger
1 large onion
2 clove garlic, crushed
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon oregano
3/4 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon rosemary
1 bay leaf
1 can (15 oz.)tomato sauce
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste

Directions:
Brown hamburger, onion, and garlic. Drain well. Stir in remaining ingredients and heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally.


Do you typically do homemade or canned on spaghetti night?




Have you entered to win the cupcake lovers necklace? Enter here



This post is linked to Tasty Tuesdays at 33 Shades of Green

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Jewelry Giveaway: Cupcake Lover Necklace

I found this adorable necklace from Sarita's Jewelry Box on Etsy way back in the fall. I was absolutely dying to get one! I showed my husband back when I discovered it, but I didn't get it for Christmas. Imagine my surprise when I received the necklace and matching earrings for Valentine's Day!

Sarita's Jewelry Box is so generously offering a necklace to one lucky reader!

I am so excited...look at how adorable this is...



Here is an up close picture of the detail. I love how the little measuring spoons are engraved with the teaspoon markings.

I really don't think it gets any cuter than this.



Do you want to win this necklace?

There are 5 ways to enter. Each one you do is worth one entry. Please make sure you leave your email so that I can contact you if you win.

1. Check out
Sarita's shop on Etsy and let me know what is your favorite piece
2. Subscribe to the blog through Email or RSS
3. Follow the blog through Google Friend Connect
4. Like the blog on
Facebook
5. Share this post on
Facebook so your friends can enter too



This giveaway ends at 11:59 on March 3rd. Winner will be drawn at random and announced on March 4th.

Disclosure: My jewelry was purchased by my husband...and the one being given away was generously donated to one reader by Sarita's Jewelry Box. I was not compensated for the review, all opinons are my own.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Convenience or Saving Money?

Have you entered the giveaway for the cupcake lovers necklace? Enter HERE!


I started off my freezer cooking in a bind last week. I was browning all of my ground beef with onions, so I had a lot of chopping to do. I purchased a bag of onions at Aldi, they looked a little close to death, but that was all they had. Anyways, when I went to use them they were completely dead.

Frustrated I was trying to come up with a quick solution. I ran up to the grocery store and looked in their frozen food section. I found frozen diced onions. I knew they had them, but I guess in my quest for frugalness I imagined they would be a lot more money.




I bought 2 bags, and each bag was only $1.40.

Here is a little math...I figure that 2 bags equal about 1 whole bag of onions. I paid $2 for the bag of onions...and the already frozen pre chopped onions only cost $2.80.

I don't know about you, but convenience trumps frugality here! I will gladly pay an extra $.80 to save both time and money. Not to mention the stink and the fact that in the freezer they last a whole lot longer!

How about you?

What do you find WORTH the additional cost for the sake of convenience?

Monday, February 21, 2011

Menu Plan Monday

The menu this week is going to be very, very simple. As much as I hate to haul out the food I just froze, I think this is the perfect week to do it. The majority of the week is going to be spent on the house!

When we bought our house there was one major disaster that needed to be taken care of.

A wall papered bedroom. Not just any wall paper. Wall paper that is made up of crocodiles on skateboards with polka dots. Yes, I know, absolutely horrible. They didn't use sizing so I have not been able to get it off.

No, in case you are wondering, we didn't just move in, the crocs have been hidden behind the door for some time now. I just want to move our guest bedroom in there. You see, with only 2 people in a 4 bedroom house it was very easy to just shut the door of that little crocodile problem. Wish me luck as I am going to battle with the crocodiles this week. After many attempts I am going to tear those suckers down!

And by the way, I hate crocodiles or alligators or whatever they are. I also hate skateboards and primary colors. What were the people thinking when they put that junk up? When we have kids, mark my words, they will never have a primary colored, wall papered room...NEVER!




Monday- Taco Soup
Tuesday- Orange Teriyaki Chicken, Cauliflower and Peas
Wednesday- Taco Salad
Thursday- Steak, Sweet Potato, and Broccoli
Friday- Out to Eat
Saturday- Out to Eat
Sunday- Salsa Beef over Brown Rice

Oh, and if you have any wall paper tear down tips...do share!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness: A Study of the Beatitudes

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" -Matthew 5:6




We all know the feelings of hunger. There are times we crave food or times when a snack would be nice. Then there are the times we NEED food. like. right. now. Our body signals us when it needs nourishment. We experience physical side effects when we go to long without food or water.

So often in today's world, both Christians and non Christians alike, look to the world to pacify our hunger. We all have a hunger and thirst for more in life, something to makes us complete. We look to others. We look to power. We look to money. We look to material things. We search and search to no avail for something that will make us feel full inside. The problem is that the world and the things it has to offer will never satisfy.


"The world promises to pacify us, but it cannot satisfy us." -Rev. Dan Walters


Just like we hunger for food to fill our stomach, we have to hunger for God to fill us spiritually. We are to crave righteousness. We are to strive to live a holy life. It isn't something to take lightly, but something that our focus should be on daily.


Friday, February 18, 2011

I've Been Freezer Cooking!

I have been busy filling my freezer this week! I thought I would share my February freezer cooking list with you all. If you haven't tried freezer cooking before or are new here, you may want to read the series I wrote back in the fall. It goes in detail about each aspect of freezer cooking!

1.
How to Begin Freezer Cooking
2.
Freezer Cooking Questions and Misconceptions
3. What Can I Freeze and How Long?
4.
How to Package Your Freezer Meals
5. Making a Freezer Cooking Plan
6. Freezer Cooking Planning Worksheets
7.
Freezer Inventory
8. Organizing Your Freezer

At the bottom of the post I linked to all of the recipes that I have previously posted on the blog...in case you want to try them out! As for the rest of the recipes listed...I look forward to sharing them with you soon!

Anyways, I feel like I have been living in the apron below this week! My Aunt Sandy gave it to me for Christmas and my grandma made it! I love that it has both my blog name and my blog colors...is it not the coolest thing you have ever seen?

(I couldn't take a pic with it on me, but I will one day. I was dying to get a flip video for Christmas so I could vlog...I was going to vlog wearing my new apron...but now that I have it I am too scared to get in front of the silly thing!)



I guess you could say that I was in the mood for spring, so I whipped up some frozen fruit cups! They are an awesome low calorie snack to have on hand when you are in the mood for something sweet. This may or may not happen on a daily basis in my life :)



I cooked up 2 pounds of dried black beans for my black bean soup and some extra to have on hand in the freezer. I still have to cook 2 pounds of pinto beans. Have you cooked dried beans? I love having them on hand.



This is only a portion of the 10 pounds of beef I browned up today. I had every stinking burner going at one time. I think that next time I have a beef day I am going to buy all of my tomato stuff at Sam's. My hand was sore after opening all of my cans.



What's done and in the freezer:

Frozen Fruit Cups (35)
Taco Meat (6 dinners)
Black Bean Soup (2 dinners)
Cooked Black Beans (6 cups)
Orange Teriyaki Chicken (6 dinners)
Parmesan Garlic Chicken (2 dinners)


What I am still working on:

Spaghetti Sauce (doubled recipe)
Beef Cabbage Soup (doubled recipe)
Taco Soup (4 dinners)
Cooked Pinto Beans (2 pounds)


Have you been freezer cooking this month?

Green Giant Winner!

The winner of the prize pack is Cards!



Please contact me with your info and prize pack will be on its way!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Skillet Lasagna

Have you entered the Green Giant Giveaway? Enter Here




We sure have had some beautiful spring weather here in Ohio for the past few days. I am totally loving it. It really feels like the snow is over and spring is on its way, fingers are crossed!

I figured I better get this skillet lasagna out here so you all can make it while it is still technically winter. Lasagna is just one of those things that is only supposed to be made in the winter...right? We both decided that we enjoyed this more than regular lasagna. It isn't runny like a lot of lasagnas and the dollops of ricotta on top were great. It reheats wonderfully well. Overall it is just a great one dish meal!




Ingredients:
1 (28oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound ground beef
10 curly edged lasagna noodles, broken into 2 inch pieces
1 (8oz.) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (plus extra for serving)
ground black pepper
1 cup ricotta cheese
3 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

Directions:
Pour the tomatoes with their juice into a 4-cup liquid measuring cup. Add water until the mixture measures 4 cups. Heath the oil in a 12 inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until the onion begins to brown, 6-8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking apart the meat, until no longer pink (the directions didn't say to, but I drained off the grease...I just couldn't leave it in the pan).

Scatter the lasagna noodles over the meat but do not stir. Pour the diced tomatoes with their juice and the tomato sauce over the noodles. Cover the skillet and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender, about 20 minutes.

Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in all but 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dot with heaping tablespoons of the ricotta, cover, and let stand off the heat for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the basil and remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Serve.

Serves 4-6




Have you been having this awesome Spring weather in your neck of the woods?

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Giveaway: Green Giant Prize Pack

I was so excited to get this awesome package on my doorstep the other week!

We are big fans of Green Giant veggies already, so I jumped on this opportunity. I received the broccoli and cheese, and it was delicious. It was the first time I had tried that variety and I loved it...I immediately thought it would be great on top of a baked potato! As much as I loved getting the veggies I have to say I loved the prize pack even more.

Green Giant Boxed Vegetables can help you stay on track to achieve your weight management goals in 2011. Twenty-nine delicious varieties are now endorsed by Weight Watchers®, and most have only a 1 or 2 PointsPlus® value per serving! Packed with flavor and ready in minutes, Green Giant Boxed Vegetables are available in a wide variety of flavors, many featuring mouthwatering sauces and seasonings. They’re a terrific addition to any meal and a delicious way to achieve better health in 2011.

Don’t forget to visit Green Giant on
Facebook and Green Giant on Twitter and “Like” or “Follow” the brand to keep up with their latest and greatest products!

Would you like to win this prize pack?

Ways to enter:

(Please leave your email so I can contact you if you win and leave me a comment for EACH things that you do.)

1. Tell me what your favorite Green Giant vegetable is

2. Become a follower

3. Follow me on Twitter

4. Like me on Facebook

5. Subscribe via email or RSS


This giveaway ends on Thursday February 17th at 11:59 pm. Winner will be announced the following morning.

*Disclosure: This prize pack and giveaway is compliments of Green Giant and My Blog Spark. I was not paid for the review, and all opinions are my own.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Menu Plan Monday

This weekend I baked and ate one of the best things ever! That wonderful, amazing thing is what I would call the best chocolate cake I have ever consumed. Chocolate and almond cake from none other than the famous Julia Child. I read that it was her favorite dessert, so I knew I couldn't go wrong choosing it for our dinner. She is right on the money!

I did, however diet conscious I thought I had become, consume about half of the cake. Ok, not about half...I did eat half of it over the course of the weekend. To my defense, it is a small little one layer 8" cake. Really small. Breakfast one day, dessert that night...I think you are getting the idea of how what kind of pig I am without me going on any more.

I am keeping the menu quite healthy in order to balance out the weight that I am sure I have gained (oh, yeah, not even getting close to the scale for a while) this weekend. I originally lost 11 pounds, but I am sure the scale wouldn't reflect that today. I will have to run a little harder at the gym this week, but believe me it was worth it. Oh, sooooo worth it! Recipe to come...if anyone is looking to indulge in some delicious calories.



Monday- Buffalo Chicken and Blue Cheese Salad
Tuesday- Beef Cabbage Soup, Salad
Wednesday- Mamaw's Spaghetti Sauce with Whole Grain Pasta
Thursday- Black Bean Soup, Salad
Friday- Out to Eat
Saturday- Out to Eat
Sunday- Grilled Chicken, Roasted Cauliflower, Salad



What's on your menu this week?

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Blessed are the Meek: A Study of the Beatitudes

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." -Matthew 5:5



I think that it is important that we understand what meekness really means. Meekness is often looked at in a negative light, and to many it is seen or described as a weakness. Meekness doesn't mean that you have to be a weak person, it is actually quite the contrary.

"The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto. " -The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer

I love this passage, and I thought he explained it all so well. In himself man is nothing, but in God everything. As Christians we can be meek, but very powerful in the Lord...and bold as a lion. We shouldn't be human mice...I absolutely despise mice and I sure don't want to resemble one.

It is all about knowing where our power comes from. We can look through the Bible and find many leaders that were very powerful and meek at the same time.


Two Biblical Leaders Who Displayed Meekness



Moses

Take a look at Moses who stood up to Pharaoh. He led God's people through the wilderness. He was a great leader who possessed a Godly meek spirit, but was in no way weak.

"Now the man Moses was very meek, above all of the men which were upon the face of the earth." -Numbers 12:3


David

David was chosen by God to be the next king. God had rejected the current King, Saul, because of his disobedience. Saul tried repeatedly to have David killed. David was a great leader, but also displayed meekness. When he learned of Saul's death he mourned.

"Then David and all of the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. They mourned, and wept, and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword." -2 Samuel 1:11-12



I would love to hear your insights to this verse and the meaning of meekness!!







Saturday, February 12, 2011

Valentine's Treat Ideas...

I went through my archives and found some cute ideas I posted for Valentines Day last year. I thought they were pretty darn cute and deserved another go around. I don't know if you are looking for any more Valentine's ideas, but here are some hard to resist ideas...

I am noticing a theme here...oatmeal and chocolate last year...and oatmeal and chocolate this year! I guess I am really digging the oatmeal cookie :)




Rice Krispie Hearts...with Chocolate

You haven't had rice krispie treats until you have added chocolate to them. Want an ever better treat...add Nutella on top!




A Frugal Valentine's Cookie Container

It doesn't get much more frugal than this. Use the oatmeal container...making the above cookies, of course, and re purpose the container for transporting the cookies to your Valentine! Decorate the container with some paper and craft stuff you have on hand and it turns out pretty cute. If you are anything like me, you have a plethora of scrapbook stuff...in a scrapbook room...and you really don't even scrapbook!

Winner of the Yoplait Smoothie Prize Pack

Congratulations to the winner of the Yoplait Smoothie Prize Pack...ALICE!


I hope you enjoy it, Alice!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Monster Cookies

The time has come to share my favorite cookie recipe. I have been making Monster cookies for quite some time now and I have been withholding this awesome cookie from you. Usually it is just my cake recipes that I withhold, which I sell, but for some reason I have never shared this. No reason really, I guess they just get eaten too fast to get a picture.

If you are trying to win over your Valentine...then you may just want to whip up a batch of these. Give them about 15 minutes to eat their cookie...they are huge and take forever to eat...and they will be yours!



In my humble opinion, it doesn't get much better than a Monster Cookie!

Why?




Well, for starters, did you get a look at that cookie?

They bake up beautifully each and every time.

They are so thick and have the perfect crisp outer edge but maintain a chewy middle.

This cookies incorporates ALL of my favorite cookie ingredients.

They are versatile...I make them kind of a lot...and each time I make them a little different.



Ingredients:
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 cups oats
1/2 cup chocolate chunks
1 1/4 cup M&M's, divided


Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, beat peanut butter and butter with a mixer. Beat until creamy. Add brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat until fluffy. Add in vanilla and eggs and mix until well blended. Add in flour and baking soda. Stir in oats, chocolate chunks, and 1 cup of M&M's.

Drop by ice cream scoopful (or 1/4 cup) onto an un greased cookie sheet. Press the remaining M&M's into the top of the cookies. Bake 11-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove from sheet to cooling rack after 1 minute.

Makes: 12 cookies



Have you entered the Yoplait Frozen Smoothie Prize Pack giveaway?

Enter here...ends 2/11!




Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Enter to Win a Yoplait Smoothie Prize Pack

I was so happy when this package arrived on my doorstep. Yoplait was generous enough to provide me with this prize pack, through My Blog Spark. The prize pack included a VIP coupon to try an package of Yoplait smoothies, a diet and fitness journal, a water bottle, and a drawstring bag.

What is even better is that one of my readers will receive the same great prize pack!



In 2011 I have made strides towards a healthier lifestyle and I know these smoothies are going to help me achieve my goals. Smoothies are something that I already frequently made, so I was excited to give these a try. I have to say I love the convenience of them and I know they will be an occasional treat from here on out (when I have coupons that is)! All you have to do is add milk...it doesn't get much easier than that.

Including Yoplait Frozen Smoothies in your diet is a quick and easy way to help you get important nutrients, like vitamin C or calcium your body needs. And with seven out of every ten Americans not eating the recommended two to four servings of fruit per day, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies could help you reach that goal.

Each package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies contains one full serving of fruit (1/2 cup) and 110 to 120 calories per serving. Not only does Yoplait yogurt contain live and active cultures, but when prepared with skim milk and made according to package directions, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies are a good source of calcium. So raise your smoothie glass and toast to a new you!

Found in the frozen fruit aisle of your local grocery store, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies come in four delicious flavors. Be sure to check out the newest flavor, Blueberry Pomegranate, along with other favorites like Triple Berry, Strawberry Banana, and Strawberry Mango Pineapple.

Don't forget to visit
Yoplait Frozen Smoothie on Facebook to download a great coupon! And follow Yoplait Frozen Smoothie on Twitter to keep up with their latest and greatest products!


Would you like to win?


Here is how to enter:

(#1-#4 are worth 1 entry each and #5 is worth 3 entries)


1. Tell me how you plan to incorporate Yoplait frozen smoothies into your healthy living plan?

2. Like The Cutting Back Kitchen on Facebook (let me know if you already do)

3. Follow The Cutting Back Kitchen through Google Friend Connect (let me know if you already do)

4. Subscribe to The Cutting Back Kitchen via email or RSS feed (let me know if you already do)

5. Share this giveaway on your personal Facebook page (just go to this post on my Facebook page and hit share)



*This giveaway ends Friday February 11 at 11:59pm. The winner will be chosen at random.

Disclaimer: This prize pack and giveaway were given to my by Yoplait through My Blog Spark. All opinions are my own.

Menu Plan Monday

Whew...I really don't know where my Monday went. After a super busy weekend and Monday I am just now trying to nail down a menu for this week! I am still trucking along on the diet so the menu is in keeping with that. I must say that after a month or so of dieting it has gotten a lot easier to stick to. I don't have nearly as many temptations as I did at first.

I still can't decide on what to make for Valentine's day. I think we will celebrate it on Saturday. When I say celebrate I mean we will eat a nice meal...we aren't really big into celebrating Valentine's Day. We both enjoy cooking and rarely make a non cutting back meal...so it should be fun to splurge. I have been looking through my Julia Child's cookbooks for inspiration. There are so many recipes in those books that I want to try and I just can't seem to narrow it down.

Have you tried any of her recipes? Do you have any suggestions?




Monday: Grilled Cheese and Homemade Tomato Soup
Tuesday:
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Wednesday: California Chicken Panini and Sweet Potato Fries
Thursday:
Taco Salad
Friday: Out to Eat
Saturday: Valentine's Dinner
Sunday: Steak, Mashed Sweet Potatoes (freezer), and Broccoli

What do you prefer to do for Valentine's day? Cook or go out to dinner?


Sunday, February 6, 2011

The Biggest Loser Winner

The winner of the Biggest Loser Prize Pack is Misty!



Congratulations, Misty...I hope that you enjoy your prize pack!

Blessed Are They That Mourn: A Study of the Beatitudes

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." -Matthew 5:4




"Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." -2 Corinthians 7:9-10


Two Things We are to Mourn Over

1. The sin in our own lives

I know it has been two weeks, but do you remember the first beatitude? Blessed are the poor in Spirit. That is the foundation for all of the following beatitudes. When we recognize our spiritual poverty it should make us weep over our own unrighteousness. When we see ourselves in the light of God we should be mournful and repentant of our sins.


2. The sin in our world

Our hearts should break with the things that break God's heart. I think it goes without saying that we live in a sinful world. There is sin running rampant everywhere you look. You can barely turn on the TV or radio without being bombarded by it.

This should break out hearts.

This should cause us to mourn and weep.

Over the sin. Over the lost souls.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Meat Loaf Supreme

Have you entered the giveaway to win the cupcake lover necklace? Enter here!


I love good old All-American food. In my opinion, it doesn't get much better than the often overlooked meatloaf served with mashed potatoes. I don't understand. A meatloaf is simply awesome and there are so many variations that can be made. In my recipe collection alone I have about 4-5 recipes for meatloaf and I love them all for different reasons.

I posted my
barbecue turkey meatloaf a while back. I am thinking I need to whip up the others and get them on here as well one day. A while back I went a little overboard on stockpiling the dry onion soup mix. I guess you could say I overestimated our need. I looked on the back of the package for some recipe ideas and low and behold there was this gem of a recipe!






Ingredients:
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
2 pounds ground beef
2 eggs
1/4 cup water
2/3 cup ketchup
3/4 cup dry bread crumbs

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, mix well. In a large shallow baking dish, shape into a loaf. Bake 1 hour.

Serves: 6-8


Do you have a go to meatloaf recipe?

Or are you like me and have several in your collection?

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Multi Grain Cheerios and The Biggest Loser: Review and Giveaway

Thanks to My Blog Spark, Multi Grain Cheerios, and The Biggest Loser I had the chance to review Multi Grain Cheerios and The Biggest Loser Prize Pack.

I have always been a Cheerio fan, but I had yet to try the Multi Grain variety. I absolutely love regular Cheerios and the Chocolate Cheerios. I really enjoyed the Multi Grain and look forward to incorporating them into my diet for some breakfasts. The slightly sweet flavor was a nice surprise, as I expected them to be pretty bland.



As I have mentioned on here several times, I have been making strides in 2011 to eat healthier. I was already on the path of being active but I needed to combine the two. The Biggest Loser and Multi Grain Cheerios have teamed up and created a website that has all kinds of tools to help you on your path to getting healthy! After entering the code on your box of Multi Grain Cheerios you can access tools including:

•A Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator to gauge how much weight you may need to lose or gain to be considered healthy and not at risk for serious health problems

•An exclusive 7 Day Plan that pairs daily meal plans with cardio and strength-training routines

•15 tasty recipes that will give your body the fuel it needs to get through the day

•Daily workouts that couple cardio with mobility and resistance exercises to hit major muscle groups

Eating Multi Grain Cheerios for breakfast along with the online tools will help in making steps toward a healthier weight. With only 110 calories per serving, Multi Grain Cheerios has over 16 grams of whole grain per serving. You can't go wrong with that!

Multi Grain Cheerios, The Biggest Loser, and My Blog Spark are going to supply one of The Cutting Back Kitchen readers with this awesome "Biggest Loser" prize pack which includes: a box of Multi Grain Cheerios which includes an exclusive online code, a gym bag, water bottle, and cereal container.




Want to win the prize pack?

1. Comment and tell me what steps you will take towards being the Biggest Loser at home.

Extra Entries

(Make sure to leave your email so I can inform you if you are the winner)

2. Subscribe to The Cutting Back Kitchen via email or RSS

3. Follow The Cutting Back Kitchen

4. Like The Cutting Back Kitchen on Facebook

This giveaway ends at 11:59 on Feb. 5. Winner will be drawn at random.



Disclosure - I was not paid for this post and all opinions are my own. Cheerios provided me the product through My Blog Spark for review and honest opinion.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Jam Filled Crescents

A while back I felt like experimenting with a lone can of crescents that had been waiting patiently to be used. I pulled out some jam and put a little in the center of the crescent. I was so surprised at how tasty they were...and simple!

They would be a lovely accompaniment to any breakfast menu! Really, the possibilities are endless. You could try any type of jam...I just happen to absolutely adore apricot. I think nutella would be excellent if you are a chocolate lover! What about some slivered almonds on top? Just put your creativity to work and see what you can come up with.



Ingredients:
1 can crescents
2 teaspoons of jam per crescent

Directions:
Unrolls crescent roll and place the jam in the middle. Roll up and bake as directed on the package.
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